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1 <br />From:Sherrie Smith <bayareasherrie@yahoo.com> <br />Sent:Monday, July 21, 2025 4:37 PM <br />To:publiccomment <br />Subject:Unhoused individuals <br />Follow Up Flag:Follow up <br />Flag Status:Completed <br />I am totally against fining unhoused individuals who do not accept a spot at a shelter and <br />charging them with a misdemeanor. I am also against them being jailed if they cannot <br />afford the fine. <br />Fines and jail time don’t address the reasons people are unhoused such as lack of <br />affordable housing, mental health support, addiction treatment, or job opportunities. <br />Unhoused people often can’t pay fines simply because they have no money. Punishing them for <br />being poor traps them in a cycle they can’t escape. It's essentially penalizing someone for their <br />economic status rather than addressing the root causes of homelessness. <br />Some shelters are not safe because they can expose people to violence, theft, sexual <br />harassment, or unsanitary conditions. Many unhoused individuals, especially women, <br />LGBTQ+ individuals, and those with mental health challenges, report feeling unsafe or <br />traumatized in crowded or poorly supervised shelter environments. <br />Best Regards, <br />Sherrie <br />You don't often get email from bayareasherrie@yahoo.com. Learn why this is important