(Summit, NJ) — A northern New Jersey community is considering fining homeless people and possibly putting them in jail. Summit lawmakers say there is a small number of homeless who are refusing to accept help and sleeping in public places. They say the homeless have made their town less desirable and sometimes unsafe Advocates for the homeless rallied outside a Tuesday night council meeting urging officials not to go through with the measure, saying it would criminalize homelessness.
Local lawmakers had to listen to hours of speakers Tuesday night who tried to sway them to vote against the proposal. They worry the threat of jail and fines will make it harder for local organizations to find and help the homeless in the wealthy community
There’s another council hearing on the matter in two weeks.
