A group of faith leaders in Charlotte is urging state lawmakers to uphold Gov. Josh Stein’s veto of a bill that would ban unauthorized camping on public property and create new felonies for drug offenses near homeless shelters.
At a press conference on Thursday at Crisis Assistance Ministry, the clergy said House Bill 437 would criminalize homelessness rather than address its causes.
Stein vetoed the bill on July 8, calling it a “significant” and “unfunded” mandate on local governments, but House Republicans have said they intend to bring the bill to a veto override vote…