1. United States
2. Pa.
3. Letter

SB 780 raises serious concerns about punishing and displacing individuals experiencing homelessness rather than addressing the root causes. This approach treats homelessness as a nuisance rather than a crisis requiring comprehensive solutions. The bill would allow municipalities to impose heavy fines for failing to clear homeless encampments, without providing any funding for shelters, housing, mental health services, or outreach programs. This cycle of displacement fails to offer any meaningful path out of homelessness. Additionally, the bill places an unfair burden on local governments by exposing them to potential liability and legal costs. It is an unfunded mandate that requires actions many municipalities cannot realistically take. Rather than punitive measures, a more effective strategy would involve increasing access to affordable housing, supportive services, and job opportunities to help people regain stability. Criminalizing homelessness only perpetuates the cycle of poverty and despair. I urge reconsideration of this problematic legislation in favor of solutions that uphold human dignity and get at the complex roots of this societal challenge.