As homelessness increases in Ashland and our state, it is critical for elected officials to turn to real solutions, and not responses that are politically expedient but ineffective and inhumane, such as fining, ticketing, arresting or otherwise punishing people for not having a home.

Criminalization is not a solution to homelessness. Arrests, fines, jail time and criminal records make it more difficult for individuals to access the housing, employment and healthcare needed to exit homelessness.

Criminalization is ineffective and expensive and will only fuel inequities in our community. Instead, we must follow the evidence on what works. Luckily, decades of evidence make clear that the best way to address homelessness is to provide people with affordable, stable housing and supportive services, like case management, healthcare and mental health and substance use services.

Rather than allowing our community to waste resources on the failed criminalization of camping, we should invest in real humane programs that work. 

The Ashland City Council is making a good recommendation to create a homeless services coordinator for the city and send out a request for proposals for a nonprofit to provide staffing for shelter options. 

I urge our whole community to support these efforts.
Rich Rohde

Ashland