Camping in public spaces is already illegal within the city of Redding. The city鈥檚 mayor wants to further restrict people from sleeping in the streets by requiring them to stay at a shelter.
Mayor Julie Winter says Redding is overwhelmed with people camping in public spaces and along the Sacramento River, which is why she鈥檇 like the city to establish a new shelter that forces homeless people to stay there.
鈥淭hat might be a low-security facility, but it鈥檚 not a facility you could just leave because you wanted to,鈥� Winter says. 鈥淵ou need to get clean, you need to get sober, you need to demonstrate self-sufficiency, and once you do that you鈥檙e free to go.鈥�
Winter asking that he declare a state of emergency in Redding because of homelessness. The declaration could free up state funds that are typically reserved for natural disasters such as wildfires. Winter says there are about 3,000 homeless people in Shasta County.
In the letter, Winter requests Newsom allow Redding to take conservatorship of homeless people鈥檚 finances if they鈥檙e deemed mentally unfit to manage their lives.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 important that we step up and come up with some real solutions that provide both a carrot 鈥� we want to help you 鈥� but there鈥檚 also a stick associated with that,鈥� Winter says. 鈥淚f you don鈥檛 want to get help, there are repercussions.鈥�
Winter envisions that people will have to stay at this shelter for up to 90 days.
The state of emergency declaration could potentially freeze regulatory hurdles that typically slow down housing developments.
The Redding City Council voted to send Winter's letter to Newsom at its Tuesday night meeting.
