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DENVER — The future of Denver’s camping ban could come down to the voters.
Denver Homeless Out Loud is pushing to get the Denver Right to Survive Initiative on the May 2019 ballot. That would allow the homeless to rest in public spaces as long as they’re not in the way of the public.
“The Right to Survive Initiative would protect people’s basic human right to sleep, sit, use cover, sleep in a vehicle, and share food in public space,“ according to a post on the Homeless Out Loud website.
State legislators voted down the so-called "Right to Rest" bill last week in a 10-3 vote.
The bill would have established the following rights for people experiencing homelessness:
- The right to use and move freely in public spaces.
- The right to rest in public spaces.
- The right to eat or accept food in any public space where food is not prohibited.
- The right to occupy a legally parked vehicle.
- The right to have a reasonable expectation of privacy of one’s property.
Currently Denver has an urban camping ban, which has been in place since 2012. City leaders cited health concerns as a major factor in its original passage.
Denver Homeless Out Loud says they have filed paperwork with the City of Denver and will be collecting signatures over the coming months.
