In September, the city of Santa Cruz set a fine example for myopic towns that still hand out "camping" tickets to homeless people sleeping outdoors. Santa Cruz's city council voted unanimously to waive such tickets given to homeless people on nights when the local shelters are full, as long as the offender is on a shelter's waitlist.

Previously, the city had only waived tickets when a certain winter shelter was full. This makes it sound like officials are admitting that it's routine for shelters to be packed to the gills year-round.

The new rule puts an unfair burden on the homeless. How can they be expected to make the effort to get assistance everyday, by going to a shelter and being put on a waitlist to ensure they won't be ticketed, while the city gets away with failing everyday by not providing enough beds?

Tell Santa Cruz that putting a Band-Aid on the gaping wound that is homelessness is not enough, even if it is a welcome Band-Aid. In addition to waiving camping tickets, officials need to take steps to ensure that homeless Santa Cruz residents can get a shelter bed when they need one. 

Photo credit: Franco Folini