SPOKANE, Wash. — The ACLU of Washington filed a lawsuit toward the City of Spokane against laws prohibiting sleeping outdoors in public places.
This comes after the Supreme Court decision in June allowed cities and counties to do so.
The Supreme Court allowed cities and counties to make laws against people sleeping or camping on public property last June, and the ACLU of Washington's lawsuit alleges the City of Spokane enforcing city ordinances on the matter is unconstitutional.
Dave Bilsland is volunteering this week with Cool Spokane, offering free water to anyone passing by City Hall on days that are 95 degrees or higher.
"It's an important thing to do," Bilsland said. "It's about taking care of everybody."
Bilsland said a big part of Spokane's population needing it the most are those without homes.
"Most people do not choose to be homeless," Bilsland said.
Last November, voters passed an ordinance that prohibited unauthorized camping on public property.
The ACLU of Washington filed the lawsuit on Thursday, saying the law functionally criminalizes homelessness. It is something Bilsland agrees with.
"Being poor is not illegal," Bilsland said.
The lawsuit argues against three City ordinances:
- Making camping and sleeping on public property a misdemeanor
- Sitting or lying on public property between 6 a.m. to midnight a misdemeanor
- The City having the ability to remove, destroy or hold onto the property of people who have been found camping
"We know that criminalizing homelessness does not work," Spokane City Councilman Paul Dillon said.
Dillon, who represents District 2, said the ordinances in place only work effectively if those who respond aren't always law enforcement.
"What we really need to move towards, I think, is this alternative response system where we have trained medical workers," Dillon said.
This is something Dillon said the City of Spokane needs more funding for.
In the meantime, Bilsland supports the lawsuit as he helps the population get cooler this weekend.
"When I've seen these ordinances, these types of ordinances, all it does is cause people heartache," Bilsland said.
Dillon did not comment on the lawsuit being filed, as he and other members have not gotten the paperwork yet.