The Missouri Legislature's House Bill 1606 went into effect on Jan. 1, banning sleeping on state land, including public parks and under bridges. Perpetrators can now receive a Class C misdemeanor after multiple offenses. While Kansas hasn't prohibited sleeping on state property, homeless people who spend the night on public land across state line will face a written warning and then up to $750 in fines or 15 days in jail — an attempt to address the surge in homelessness after the pandemic. For Kansas City shelters and outreach organizations, the ban means an influx of homeless people to provide temporary housing and resources for. River of Refuge — a local non-profit organization that transitions unsheltered people to permanent housing — had a lengthy waitlist even before the bill, according to Executive Director Pamela Seymour. To read more, click the link in bio. #storybyfrancescastamati #photobyclairegoettsch #socialmediabyveronicamangine