FACTS ON THIS ISSUE. HOMELESSNESS IS NOT A NEW ISSUE HERE IN LOUISVILLE, BUT THERE IS A NEW LAW THAT COULD POTENTIALLY CRIMINALIZE PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS. AND ADVOCATES SAY THERE WAS A BETTER WAY TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES, THAT HOUSING IS ESSENTIAL. IT IS A FOUNDATION STONE THAT OUR LIVES ARE BUILT UPON. ACCORDING TO GEORGE ECHLIN WITH THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS, THERE ARE 800 BEDS ACROSS CITY SHELTERS, BUT 600 PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS EACH NIGHT. THE SAFER KENTUCKY ACT WENT INTO EFFECT ON MONDAY, WHICH MAKES IT ILLEGAL FOR PEOPLE TO SLEEP OR SET UP CAMP IN PUBLIC PLACES. IT’S A CLASS B MISDEMEANOR FOR A SECOND, AND REPEAT OFFENSES, ALONG WITH A $250 FINE. THE LAW BRINGS CONCERNS FOR THOSE LIKE ECHLIN, WHO WERE ON A MISSION TO CURB HOMELESSNESS. FOR US, WE THINK THAT LOCKING PEOPLE UP, FINDING THEM, GIVING THEM MISDEMEANORS AND CHARGES ARE NOT ACTUALLY GOING TO ADDRESS. THEY’RE HOMELESS, THEY’RE HOMELESS. SITUATION. FOR US, WE BELIEVE THAT HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS, NOT HANDCUFFS. MAYOR GREENBERG SAYS THE CITY IS FOCUSED ON PROVIDING HOUSING OPTIONS AND RESOURCES FOR THOSE FACING HOMELESSNESS. WE’RE GOING TO CONTINUE RIGHT NOW DOING WHAT WE’RE DOING, WHICH IS ENSURING THAT OUR STREETS ARE SAFE AND HEALTHY FOR EVERYONE. WHEN IT COMES TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, THE BEST THING THAT WE CAN DO IS PROVIDE THEM WITH MORE SERVICES AND SHELTER. HE ALSO SAYS IF PEOPLE HAVE DISORDERLY BEHAVIOR, REGARDLESS OF HOUSING STATUS, THEY WILL FACE CONSEQUENCES. SOME INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ON THE STREETS FOR THE WRONG REASONS AND CREATING DISTURBANCES, WE WILL HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. ECHLIN BELIEVES MANY OF THE CURRENT EFFORTS TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS ARE WORKING, BUT ADMITS THERE IS ALSO MORE WORK TO BE DONE. WE NEED TO MOVE TOWARDS MORE 24 HOUR SHELTER. WE NEED TO MOVE TOWARDS MORE TRANSITIONAL SHELTER MODELS WHERE PEOPLE HAVE SOME LEVEL OF STABILITY AND PERMANENCE, WHERE THEY CAN REALLY FOCUS ON GETTING BACK INTO HOUSING RATHER THAN MOVING FROM SHELTER