Exploring the Implications of the Proposal to Criminalize Homelessness (Essay Sample)

Name Instructor Course Title Date Exploring the Implications of the Proposal to Criminalize Homelessness The increasingly common sight of sprawling shanties and individuals living without shelters in urban landscapes embodies the pressing issue of homelessness in American society. The surge in the homeless individual population in the country has sparked a contentious discourse concerning the proposal to proscribe those without shelter. Such contentious measures ignite significant practical and ethical dilemmas, prompting the American citizenry to countenance the stark realities facing its vulnerable population. While proponents agitate for criminalization measures as central to restoring order and public safety, the policies negate the complex systemic challenges that precipitate homelessness. The proposals to criminalize homelessness are flawed since they exacerbate poverty cycles, breach fundamental human rights, and impose a profound burden on the strained public resources. Prohibiting homelessness aggravates the poverty cycle by amplifying the underlying system issues, as demonstrated by empirical research findings. Recent data from the United States Census Bureau (7) show that retributive policies intensify the marginalization of non-domiciled individuals, with 70% of this group reporting challenges accessing fundamental services such as housing and employment due to criminalization laws. The findings corroborate empirical evidence that has consistently demonstrated that homeless persons with criminal records emanating from punitive policies are 55% time less likely to have stable housing opportunities than those without such records (Mitchell et al. 9). The studies’ findings are statistically significant, highlighting the adverse effects of stringent anti-homelessness regulations on perpetuating poverty cycles among the non-domiciled. Moreover, illegalizing homelessness subverts fundamental human rights by ignoring the intricate socioeconomic elements that drive housing instability. Homelessness is primarily caused by inherent inequalities and economic challenges. A plan to proscribe such a condition using punitive policies violates fundamental human rights as envisaged in federal, state, and international laws (Owadally and Grundy 4). It infracts an individual right to shelter and fair treatment in a legal context. Homelessness criminalization is associated with increased stigmatization and prejudice against the affected persons, further marginalizing them from American society (Owadally and Grundy 5). Therefore, managing homelessness as an illegal rather than humanitarian issue makes authorities transgress on the citizens' central rights. In retrospect, critics contend that criminalizing homelessness alleviates the associated disorders and enhances public safety. Mitchell et al. (10) concluded in a cohort study investigating data across 25 jurisdictions that have enforced such policies established that they were associated with significant reduction in visible homelessness. Implementing anti-homeless ordinances can elevate property values and induce homeless persons to seek rehabilitation and necessary assistance. However, retrospective studies have found these findings inconclusive and limited. Owadally and Grundy (5) established that criminalizing homelessness shifts the burden to other crucial socioeconomic sectors rather than aid in resolving the issue. The cost of enforcing such measures is resource-intensive, outweighing the benefits, and drains the already strained public coffers. Conclusively, the proposal to prohibit homelessness has no justifiable legal, moral, or practical justification. It exacerbates poverty cycles ...