Rocky River anti-homeless legislation could worsen housing crisis, advocate says

ROCKY RIVER, Ohio -- A homeless advocacy group says a push by Rocky River city officials to criminalize overnight sleeping and camping in public could actually make homelessness worse.

Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless Director of Organizing and Advocacy Josiah Quarles said that type of legislation would create another barrier to housing by giving people criminal records that future landlords could use to deny them housing.

The solution is to provide people with housing, education and access to healthcare, Quarles said.

“Those are the investments we need to make, rather than try to sweep away the problem and hide it from view,” Quarles said.

The proposals, which Rocky River City Council introduced earlier this month, are the latest in a wave of legislation targeting individuals