Campbell: Homeless lives matter too

Today, April 14, the Indiana House majority passed Senate Bill 197. The bill was amended in the House Committee on Judiciary to include language making it a Class C misdemeanor for a person to sleep or camp on public property of the state or a political subdivision. SB 197 criminalizes homelessness and traps individuals in a cycle of poverty by imposing a fine of up to $500 and 60 days in jail for sleeping outside.

State Rep. Chris Campbell (D-West Lafayette) released the following statement:

“In the last five years, we’ve seen an increase in people experiencing homelessness. SB 197 will add more barriers for those experiencing housing insecurity. Individuals already struggling to make ends meet would now have to pay a $500 fine, and they’ll be shuffled through the state’s prisons. 

“Many of them are sleeping outside, trying to get what little rest they can, because they have no other place to go. Only 55 of our 92 counties said they had adequate resources to serve unhoused people. With this bill, individuals experiencing homelessness will go from jail straight back to the street due to a lack of services. Incarceration will create additional barriers to housing and employment. 

“We should pass legislation ensuring Hoosiers can thrive and grow in our state. Instead, we’re criminalizing the most vulnerable members of our community and forcing them into a cycle of poverty. I find it extremely disappointing that the majority would push for legislation harming people in need instead of addressing the real concerns in our state. People experiencing homelessness matter too.”