HOMELESS PEOPLE TICKETED FOR

BEING OUTSIDE AND VIOLATING

SOCIAL DISTANCING ORDERS
April 9, 2020

John Vibes, The Mind Unleashed

Waking Times

In the city of Hamilton in Ontario, Canada, police have been ticketing homeless
people for not observing social distancing rules during the pandemic.

The tickets reportedly come along with a fine of up to $750, which homeless people
are obviously unable to pay.
Local human rights advocates are speaking out about the injustice and demanding
the police stop issuing the fines. Lisa Nussey of Keeping Six, a local homeless
advocacy group, said that fining people isn’t going to solve anything.

“I think the message to police should be that this a question of public health, not law
and order, and people need to be given every opportunity and every avenue to
promote public health,” Nussey said.

Police Chief Eric Girt said that police were giving people warnings and gradually
enforcing the social distancing orders over time. But he also said that writing tickets
was up to the officer’s discretion.

“We want compliance first. We certainly explained it to a number of people. Some

people remain oppositional, so then we’re put in a spot where we may have to do
enforcement and that’s obviously our last alternative,” Girt told the Hamilton
Spectator.

Police in France have also been accused of fining homeless people for being
outside during the pandemic and have received similar criticisms from local human
rights advocates.

Large homeless populations throughout the world are experiencing this unique
challenge during the coronavirus pandemic.

In some regions, homeless populations have been given access to temporary

housing in shelters or hotels, but more often than not they are treated more like
criminals than humans in need.

In Los Angeles, California, homeless single mothers calling themselves “the

reclaimers” have begun to occupy vacant homes to get themselves and their
families off the streets during this dangerous time.

Local officials have recognized the actions of the reclaimers and have said that they
will be able to stay in the homes temporarily during the pandemic.