Pub. 8 2018-2019 Issue 5

4 O V E R A C E N T U R Y : B U I L D I N G B E T T E R B A N K S - H E L P I N G C O L O R A D A N S R E A L I Z E D R E A M S A Word From CBA... CBA Joins Efforts to Oppose Legislation, Initiative NORMALIZING HOMELESSNESS ISN’T THE ANSWER T he U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reported in December that homelessness in Colorado had decreased by .8 percent last year. However, more than 10,000 Colora- dans were experiencing homelessness on a single night of the year, the report add- ed. Worse, rates for families with children that were experiencing homelessness in the state were considerably higher in Col- orado than the rest of the nation. The State of Colorado and the City of Denver will soon weigh proposals aimed at assisting the homeless population in Colorado, but both proposals are con- cerning and fraught with unintended consequences. While none of us wants another person to experience homeless- ness, neither proposal is the answer to the serious problem. In January, Rep. Jovan Melton, D , Denver, introducedHB19-1096, Colorado Right to Rest. It closely mirrors Initiative 300 that will appear on the Denver ballot in May. Essentially both measures: • Provide the right to rest and shelter oneself in public spaces • Including parks, mountain parks, open space, sidewalks, alleys, park strip be- tween street & home, public forums… • Allow individuals to permanently camp in cars that are legally parked on public streets and in public parking areas • Enable public feedings, no matter the size, in all public spaces • Considers attempts by law enforcement or private citizens to interfere with in- dividuals exercising their rights under this law civil rights violations • Includes an overarching Repeals Clause that repeals any law that infringes on one’s right to survive/rest That means, people could set up camp and live on sidewalks, and in public rights of way around homes and businesses. They would be allowed to live in parked cars or RVs outside homes and businesses and business owners and homeowners would have no recourse. The Colorado Bankers Association is focused on both issues and opposes invasions of property rights. CBA is engaged at both the state and local level and is part of the No on 300 campaign. Allowing people to sleep outside in public places is not safe, healthy or helpful for the people experiencing homelessness or the broader communi- ty. Further, the measures do nothing to combat homelessness; rather they nor- malize it. For that reason, organizations like the Denver Rescue Mission that serve the homeless oppose the measure. And, based on the way this proposal is written, Initiative 300 may make it hard- er to provide those people experiencing homelessnesswith resources and services. Please let us know if you would like to get involved in either or both efforts, or if you have questions or comments. We’ll be in touch. 