After conversations with the Missouri Department of Transportation about the increase in homeless encampments across the state, some Missouri lawmakers have introduced legislation to address the issue.
Senate Bill 1106, sponsored by Sen. Holly Thompson Rehder, R-Cape Girardeau, would create an avenue for nonprofits to use state funding for designated parking or camping areas.
"They're safe, supervised areas away from the city centers and neighborhoods, where homeless individuals can bring their belongings and have access to running water, sanitary facilities and public safety," Thompson Rehder said. "The intake process, which is my favorite portion of this bill, includes an evaluation of an individual's mental health state."
Any political subdivision or not-for-profit in an area with above average per-capita homeless receiving state funding for providing services for the homeless shall survey homeless individuals and identify those individuals with the greatest number of combined days of being unhoused, incarcerated or hospitalized and shall use state funds otherwise used to construct permanent housing to assist such individuals, the bill summary states. A political subdivision or not-for-profit may use state grants for permanent housing or to conduct surveys, but these expenses shall not exceed 10 percent of the total grant amount.
Additional provisions regarding fund allocation are outlined in the bill.
During a public hearing on the bill, Thompson Rehder and other witnesses pointed out some of the issues that occur from using a Housing First approach, noting many times the root causes of homelessness, such as mental health and substance abuse, are not addressed.
Housing First is an approach to connect individuals and families experiencing homelessness to permanent housing without preconditions and barriers to entry, such as sobriety, treatment or service participation requirements, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Supportive services are offered to maximize housing stability and prevent returns to homelessness as opposed to addressing predetermined treatment goals prior to permanent housing entry.
Cities including Austin, Texas, San Diego, California, and Athens, Georgia, have seen success with similar programs like the one in her bill, Thompson Rehder said.
"Mental health professionals and social workers will work inside the camping areas to manage any crisis; law enforcement officers ensure that serious disputes are resolved, an individual's property is protected and the camp is a safe environment," Thompson Rehder said.
A large concern for many homeless individuals is the ability to keep all of their belongings with them. Some even refuse to stay in shelters because they are often only allowed to bring a certain number of personal bags.
Judge Glock, director of policy and research at the Cicero Institute in Austin, testified in support of the proposed legislation.
"When they say that we nearly have to wait a few decades until we have enough money to buy enough homes for every one of them, that can't be a solution that Missouri or other states can or should follow," Glock said. "What this bill does is give states and cities more options about how to address homelessness and allows ... the repurposing of some of the housing trust funds to assured and proven solutions such as sanction camping sites (and) tiny homes."
Under SB 1106, shelters are eligible to receive more funding after implementation of the program.
"It's a pay for performance funding structure that allows the state to invest in what's working and help us to start moving away from what is not," Thompson Rehder said.
"To find a lasting good solution to homelessness, we must address the underlying problems to see long-term success," she added. "It's certainly an incredible opportunity to be able to get folks into the mental health services that they need."