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Like many sex offenders who become homeless, one Michigan man was turned away from a homeless shelter in 2009 because it was located within 1,000 feet of a school. Sadly, the night he was turned away, the weather was below zero, and the man froze to death on the streets.
Several other homeless sex offenders filed suit in Federal Court, seeking a ruling that would allow them to stay in shelters regardless of the residency restriction.
According to a local news article, approximately 20% of all sex offenders in downtown Grand Rapids are homeless, and several shelters in the area fall within the 1,000’ restriction.
A Federal Judge recently found in favor of the sex offenders, noting that the word “reside” means a permanent place to stay. If the individual sex offender needs an emergency shelter due to severe weather conditions, arrives at night and leaves in the morning, and has no expectation of having a place to sleep in the shelter each night, the offender is not “residing” at the shelter and can stay.
Unfortunately, this problem about homeless sex offenders exists throughout this country. Many shelters cannot accept an offender because the shelter is either too close to a school, park or day care, or houses women or children in the shelter.
While there are arguable justifications for a residency restriction, many times the restrictions force offenders out on to the streets.
Do you think there should be exceptions for shelters? Emergency shelters? If not, where should homeless offenders go to seek shelter?
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