RALEIGH, N.C. (NCN News) – Amid signing a flurry of bills from this year’s legislative session, Democratic Governor Josh Stein vetoed a bill impacting how cities can deal with homeless encampments.
The bill gives local governments the option to create designated areas for camping by the homeless, so long as they’re not near residential areas or in places that would adversely affect businesses.
Also, the bill sets up drug free zones around locations that service homeless populations. Anyone who manufactures, sells or delivers, or possesses with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver, a controlled substance in one of these zones would face increased criminal penalties. The bill also boosts penalties for service providers that “intentionally allow” these types of offenses to occur at their location.
“We all want people experiencing homelessness to get back on their feet and live in safe, affordable housing. Yet, this poorly constructed bill makes that goal harder and creates another significant unfunded mandate for local governments,” Stein said. “The bill also fundamentally misunderstands how people suffering from addiction get healthy. If government threatens criminal liability against those who seek treatment and against the people, organizations, and churches trying to help them, government stands in the way of services that promote health and safety, and people’s problems are actually made worse”
Stein said he long called for funding to crack down on drug trafficking, invest in behavioral health, and expand affordable housing options – because he says homelessness and substance misuse, he says are “real problems that deserve real solutions.”
Republicans, including State House Speaker Destin Hall, vow to override the veto.
“If Governor Stein was serious about helping homeless people, he would have signed this legislation into law. His veto puts North Carolina at risk of missing out on critical federal funding that would help move people out of unsafe encampments and into stable housing and supportive services,” Hall said in press release.
“The Governor’s refusal to address homelessness only allows more people to sink deeper into addiction and mental illness while making our communities less safe.”
Other groups also opposed the bill, among them The North Carolina League of Municipalities—who points out the bill would place more burdens on local governments without address the “root problems” of homelessness.
Several housing advocacy groups, as well as the North Carolina chapter of the ACLU also went on record against the proposal.
With a budget passed, the General Assembly had drastically scaled back its meeting schedule, but could return for a regular session at any time to consider the veto or other matters.
The bill gives local governments the option to create designated areas for camping by the homeless, so long as they’re not near residential areas or in places that would adversely affect businesses.
Also, the bill sets up drug free zones around locations that service homeless populations. Anyone who manufactures, sells or delivers, or possesses with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver, a controlled substance in one of these zones would face increased criminal penalties. The bill also boosts penalties for service providers that “intentionally allow” these types of offenses to occur at their location.
“We all want people experiencing homelessness to get back on their feet and live in safe, affordable housing. Yet, this poorly constructed bill makes that goal harder and creates another significant unfunded mandate for local governments,” Stein said. “The bill also fundamentally misunderstands how people suffering from addiction get healthy. If government threatens criminal liability against those who seek treatment and against the people, organizations, and churches trying to help them, government stands in the way of services that promote health and safety, and people’s problems are actually made worse”
Stein said he long called for funding to crack down on drug trafficking, invest in behavioral health, and expand affordable housing options – because he says homelessness and substance misuse, he says are “real problems that deserve real solutions.”
Republicans, including State House Speaker Destin Hall, vow to override the veto.
“If Governor Stein was serious about helping homeless people, he would have signed this legislation into law. His veto puts North Carolina at risk of missing out on critical federal funding that would help move people out of unsafe encampments and into stable housing and supportive services,” Hall said in press release.
“The Governor’s refusal to address homelessness only allows more people to sink deeper into addiction and mental illness while making our communities less safe.”
Other groups also opposed the bill, among them The North Carolina League of Municipalities—who points out the bill would place more burdens on local governments without address the “root problems” of homelessness.
Several housing advocacy groups, as well as the North Carolina chapter of the ACLU also went on record against the proposal.
With a budget passed, the General Assembly had drastically scaled back its meeting schedule, but could return for a regular session at any time to consider the veto or other matters.