Miami authorities passing law to criminalize homeless

Authorities in the US city of Miami have proposed a new law that prevents homeless people from sleeping on the sidewalks of the streets. The proposed measure also bans the use of sleeping tents, mattresses and pillows on the streets and prohibits eating, sitting and asking for money in public spaces. Critics have accused authorities of penalizing homelessness. This anti-homeless laws are on the rise all over United States and according to a new study released by the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty these ordinances are costly and don't make much of a dent in reducing homelessness rates. But the City of Miami Police Department guarantees that there are no arrests and rejects the accusation of criminalization of the homeless. The fact is that the shortage of affordable housing and the lack of more structured shelters leave the homeless with no choice but to perform basic acts of survival on the streets. Experts say that rather than punishing those who experience homelessness, the city should use its resources to develop and implement cost-effective, humane, and long-term solutions to homelessness. Live @ http://bit.ly/1vSsqKr Twitter @ http://bit.ly/1scKgco LiveLeak @ http://bit.ly/1vSsr0J Facebook @ http://on.fb.me/1scKgcl Google+ @ http://bit.ly/1vSsr0K Instagram @ http://bit.ly/1uWOZMS