Safe Parking, Safe Camping, Proposal to the Vermont Legislature

Given that the lack of a consistent, private dwelling place to support life functions, recreation, relationships and employment is traumatic and problematic, for any member of the community of Vermont,

Given that the state sees a persistent stream of persons without permanent, stable housing,

Given that the quantity of housing has not been sufficient to accommodate everyone who lives here, and

Given that the cost of housing exceeds the available funds of many Vermont households,

It seems self evident that many persons are forced to live outdoors, to endure the elements and dangers to their persons and property, and

Given that if there were enough affordable housing, living outdoors would not be necessary,

It seems further self evident that persons so compelled depend upon the compassion and efforts of the community, state and local governments to provide safety and minimal services to maintain any semblance of normality, dignity and hope of a better life.

Therefore it is requested and proposed,

That the State require all municipalities to create plans to protect the safety and dignity of those forced to live outdoors;

That the State set standards for these plans, and create a method of review of these plans.

Writing such a plan:

The foundation of such a plan is an assessment of the number of homeless persons in the various categories of homelessness, both as a proportion of the statewide count and through direct assay of the town's residents. The plan would be based on a reasonable compromise between these numbers.

Rural, suburban and urban areas are not likely to distribute the homeless population proportionally, and the nature of homelessness varies dramatically across these community types. Moreover, the costs of planning for and accommodating a small and evanescent homeless population might be a burden for very low population towns. A few strategies are proposed to relieve this burden:

• The plan detail for each “provision” (below) may be scaled to the needs of the town, with appropriate evidence and testimony, and as agreed to by state reviewers. ¹
• Town plans may be consolidated into regional plans. A consolidation plan that includes all community types would be expected to provide more opportunity for efficiency in the delivery of services.
• A town might rely on a standard plan or template created by the state or regional planning commission,
• “Best practices” will provide guidance.

The environment in which homelessness occurs is complex, thus such plans must address:

• Where someone who is without housing can rest and reside without danger of being told to leave. There must be a viable, useful and specific alternate location.
• What the police response to encounters with the homeless wil be, and training in relation to.
• Provision of sanitary facilities, and disposal of surplus property and trash, including cleanup of abandoned camps.
• Assistance for medically endangered persons (example: insulin).
• Protection and recovery of vehicles and property contained within.
• Approach to non-permitted constructed housing.
• Provision of and engagement with social services.
• How the municipality proposes to address persons not compelled to live outdoors, who choose to.
• Procedures for giving notice when a campsite must be moved.
• Best response when criminal activity is discovered.
• Public review of the plan and the town's fidelity to it.

This proposal recognizes that persons are already camping and parking across the state, and rather than devise an entirely new system, proposes to add protections and employ existing services, to ensure that, when campers, parkers or other non-housed person is discovered, they can remain where they are or there is a location to which they may viably go.

This proposal contemplates State level review, but does not propose how. Some combination of human services, economic development, public safety, and advocates is suggested, and the Vermont Council on Homelessness might be the logical seat of oversight.

The intent of this proposal is to give rest and comfort to those who are homeless, by asking towns to address the concerns listed here, and commit to “best practices”.

1The homeless population for purposes of making this assessment should include all of those who live on public property or without permission on private property, generally: outdoors on the ground, in tents, in cars, campers or trailers, places of public accommodation such as an ATM or stairwell, and in abandoned properties without facilities. Housing which is unsuited to human habitation but is located on property owned or rented by the resident would not be included for purposes of plans to protect those who are forced to live outdoors. Protections for the housing marginalized are in order, but not under this proposal