U.S. governor forces homeless into shelters

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered homeless into shelters for the winter.

Democrat New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order for homeless to get off the streets for the winter, and he ordered officials with social services and law-enforcement authorities to force them into shelters.

AccuWeather reported the sudden drop in temperatures precipitated the governor's move.

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"As subfreezing temperatures have finally arrived in the northeastern United States, New York state is taking a drastic step to protect the homeless from the cold," the site reported.

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And basically, that "drastic step" is forced housing.

"The homeless may be forced into shelters against their will," according to the terms of the executive order, AccuWeather reported. "Those who refuse to go inside and who appear to be at risk for cold-related injuries will be involuntarily taken to a shelter."

The order, called No. 151: Emergency Declaration Regarding Homelessness During Inclement Winter Weather, cites the state government's "obligation" to provide for people in need and to "protect and promote" citizens' health.

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"Look," said Cuomo, to 1010 WINS, "you have a federal government, a state government and a city government. We believe some things as a nation that apply to everyone. We believe some things as a state that apply to everyone in the state. And we believe as a state that we're not going to leave anyone on the streets in the cold. We're going to have safe, clean, decent shelters and that is a statewide mandate that I signed because I believe that's what New Yorkers believe, as a people. It doesn't matter if you live in Buffalo, or Albany or New York City. We believe nobody should be left to sleep on the streets."

The order says the state has more than 77,000 emergency shelter beds for homeless and can coordinate with social services to provide necessary facilities. Cuomo, in his dictate, ordered "all local social service districts, police agencies ... and state agencies to ... identify individuals reasonably believed to be homeless ... and move such individuals to the appropriate sheltered facilities."

The governor's right to round up homeless and put them in shelters comes from state law, he said, in his order.

The pertinent part read: "New York State law is clear and well-established that the State can take appropriate steps, including involuntary placement, to protect individuals from harming themselves or others."

The order then cites the state constitution and the state's Mental Hygiene Law.