BOISE, ID – Faith leaders are voicing their opposition to Idaho legislation passed this session they describe as criminalizing homelessness.
The Legislature passed Senate Bill 1141, which bans public sleeping or camping on public property in Idaho cities of 100,000 people or more. The law goes into effect July 1. The Boise Collective, formerly known as the Boise Faith Group, brings together leaders across faiths, and the group said the law will only exacerbate the issue of homelessness.
Pete Schroeder, director of local missions for the Cathedral of the Rockies in Boise, said their opposition is straightforward.
“That act of ticketing people who don’t have a place to sleep, it’s immoral,” Schroeder contended. “And that’s about it, can’t be any more immoral.”
Supporters of the measure said the law will protect public spaces. Schroeder noted his church offers help for people experiencing homelessness.
“We offer a safe shelter where there’s no judgment,” Schroeder emphasized. “We provide free lunches during the week and a hot meal on Sundays. So, that’s one thing we do to show that, regardless of the rest of the world around us maybe, we do care. And many other churches have programs that do similar outreach programs for our homeless.”
Schroeder added protests at the Capitol have become a regular practice among faith leaders because of their concern about laws passed by legislators.
“Any pastor worth his salt would contend that Jesus lived a life right in the middle of politics,” Schroeder argued. “And so trying to not so much pressure but encourage – but pressure where needed – our Legislature to act in the interest of those who have the greatest needs.”