US making homelessness illegal: American activist

The United States government is making it illegal for people to “exist as homeless,” says an American activist.

He also commented on what he called “a cutback on benefits” to the homeless people in the United States.

“What you’re seeing is not just a cutback on benefits to the homeless, but cities and towns across the United States are rapidly criminalizing sleeping outside; remaining in one place outside with no place to go; knocking on the door to ask to use the bathroom; soliciting someone in a car – all these are becoming criminal acts across the United States.”

The remarks come as a report, issued by the National Center on Family Homelessness on Monday, showed child homelessness across the United States at a record high of 2.5 million children for 2013, an eight-percent increase compared to 2012.

Up to 100 major cities across the United States have passed bans on begging, loitering and sharing or giving food away in public places, which hurts pantries or churches who give food to the homeless on the street. The penalties vary by city and law and can include fines or jail time.

Harshening of laws that affect the homeless coincide with a long term government drive to cut social security benefits further weakening the social safety net.

Source: Press TV