Porter stands up for the least of these, stands against bill criminalizing homelessness

Today, April 14, the Indiana House majority passed Senate Bill 197 with a vote of 52 to 40. 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. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) released the following statement: 

“The House majority reached a new low today by passing a bill criminalizing homelessness. Never in all my years did I expect to see a measure like this pass through our chamber. It’s heartbreaking. These are people who aren’t sleeping in a public place by choice–it’s because they have no other option. Unlike the legislators in this chamber, they don’t have a warm bed to go home to.

“Indianapolis is doing all it can to help unhoused people. Our shelters are taking everybody they can, and we’re constructing a low-barrier homeless shelter. Now, they want to trap people in a cycle of poverty and send them off in handcuffs. Per person, incarceration will cost Indianapolis $52 a day, which is money that could be used for permanent, supportive housing. 

“Where is our compassion? Expecting people experiencing hardship to pay a $500 fine is just flat out wrong. I’m extremely saddened this bill passed, as it will only cause more pain for those who are already hurting. Jail harms, housing heals.”