LA Can't Kick Its Homeless Off the Street Unless They've Got Beds for Them

Photo: A new federal court ruling says cities can no longer give homeless people tickets for sitting and sleeping in public places unless the city can provide enough shelter beds to house the entire homeless population. Angie Crouch reports for the NBC4 News at 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 4, 2019. (Published Thursday, April 4, 2019)

A federal court ruling affecting all western states including California says cities can no longer give tickets to homeless people for sitting or sleeping in public places unless the city provides enough alternative beds for the city’s entire homeless population.

Matt and Sativa Peeples are living on the street in downtown Los Angeles. They say just Wednesday, a Los Angeles Police Department officer told them they couldn’t set up their tent on a public sidewalk because it violates a city ordinance against public camping.

“She threatened us with a ticket. I said, ‘where is an appropriate place to put up your tent?'” Peeples said.

The ACLU of Southern California agrees it’s wrong to punish people for sleeping outside when there aren’t enough beds indoors.

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