Forum on homelessness tonight in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — The public is invited to attend a forum in Moses Lake tonight that is designed to discuss homelessness in the city.

The forum will be held at the Moses Lake Civic Center, 401 S. Balsam St., at 7 p.m. Locals are invited to attend and engage in conversation with representatives from several local agencies about the current homelessness issue in the city. The forum is sponsored by the Moses Lake city council and staff, New Hope Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services, the Housing Authority of Grant County and Moses Lake Community Health Center.

Homelessness became a hot button issue following an early Sept. 9 Circuit Court of Appeals decision. In Martin vs. City of Boise the justices ruled city ordinances can violate the Eighth Amendment, which relates to cruel and unusual punishments, if they impose criminal penalties against homeless people who chose to sleep outdoors or on public property when a city doesn’t have a shelter for them to use. As a result several homeless camps have sprung up around the city, causing an outcry from numerous community members.

Cities without shelters have been forced to find solutions to comply with the court’s ruling. Moses Lake council members are in the process of studying the issue and have yet to come to a consensus on a proposed ordinance. Insight gathered from tonight’s forum, which is organized by the council’s homeless committee, will be considered by the council as they move forward with deciding how to address the city’s current homeless population situation.