Punishing people for sleeping and camping in public spaces 

In late June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled fining or jailing people for sleeping and camping in public places when there is no shelter available does not violate the Constitution.

The decision gives local governments the license to criminally punish people in homeless encampments or other public spaces.

A recently proposed ordinance in Duluth would make camping on city property a misdemeanor crime and Brainerd is considering a similar law.

Rochester recently passed a similar ordinance, and police say it’s led to more people using overflow shelter space as well as a large drop in the number of encampments.

MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests discuss the recent ruling and how it could affect Minnesota.

Guests:

• Cathy ten Broeke is the assistant commissioner and executive director of the Minnesota Interagency Council on Homelessness.

• Ricardo “Rico” Morales is an Indigenous person and a lifelong Minnesota resident who has struggled with housing stability for most of his life. He is an implementation consultant with the Minnesota Interagency Council on Homelessness.

• Daniel Fanning is vice president of strategy and policy at the Duluth Chamber of Commerce.

• John Cole is executive director of Chum, the largest shelter north of the Twin Cities.

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Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.