A new bill introduced in the Maryland House of Delegates would require cities and counties to allow homeless individuals to sleep and stay in public places, including parks, parking lots, sidewalks, and other public areas. House Bill 487, sponsored by Delegate Mireku-North, states that homeless individuals have the right to use these spaces for basic activities like sleeping, sitting, and seeking shelter, and local governments would not be able to penalize them for doing so. The bill also prevents fines or penalties against people who offer food, water, or money to the homeless in these areas.
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The bill broadly defines public places to include not only parks and sidewalks but also public transportation facilities, shopping centers, and even some private properties open to the public, such as parking lots. It states that homeless individuals cannot be forced to leave unless they are offered adequate alternative indoor space, which the bill defines as free, accessible shelter that allows people to stay indefinitely without restrictions. This means property owners, law enforcement and city officials would be limited in their ability to remove homeless individuals from these locations unless they can provide a suitable alternative, such as a free shelter that meets strict conditions.
The bill would also allow homeless individuals to challenge tickets or arrests for trespassing or disorderly conduct by claiming they had nowhere else to go. Additionally, if a homeless person’s car or RV is towed, they would have the right to retrieve their belongings from it and could potentially reclaim the vehicle for free or at a lower cost based on their ability to pay.
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If passed, this law would override any local rules that attempt to ban homeless individuals from staying in public places, unless the local laws offer even greater protections. The bill is set to take effect on October 1, 2025, if approved.
Article by multiple RFHC contributors.
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