When Vice President JD Vance visited Canton in August of this year, he commented on the safety of the city, even stating that the town was lawless. Now, Canton governmental officials are working to reverse this statement in the public eye, primarily by making laws against homelessness.
On Sept. 15th, Canton passed legislation that deems camping on city property illegal. This legislation will be enforced through a $50 fine; however, many Canton residents are concerned that this law unfairly targets homeless people that may not have anywhere else to go.
Billy is a 54-year-old man who graduated from Mckinley with the class of ‘91. Between 2014 and 2017, tragedy struck for Billy. In the span of three years, he had a stroke, his wife cheated and divorced him and he had eight surgeries on his left leg. Due to those surgeries and stroke, he was left unable to get a job, and currently, his only income is through Supplemental Security Income (SSIs).
He has been homeless for over five years, and although he has tried shelters several times, he has always ended up back on the streets.
“I will give the shirt off my back to anyone, but if someone p*sses me off, I can’t control my temper, and you get all types in those shelters… I don’t want to spend time in the penitentiary again,” Billy said.
Billy is not the only person like this though, as shelters are often overcrowded and underfunded.
In fact, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, in Ohio in 2024, there was only enough temporary housing for 68% of homeless adults. Even more concerning, as of 2024, there was only enough permanent housing for 6% of homeless adults.
According to the Stark Community Foundation, on one night in 2024, there were a recorded 330 homeless individuals in Stark County. This number is reported to only have risen in the previous year. The foundation continues, stating that the shelters are at capacity.
Although building or expanding more shelters could solve some of the issues, these shelters often do not provide any help for homeless individuals. Due to this, people like Billy end up returning to the streets in worse conditions than they were in prior to entering the shelter.
There is currently a national movement to outlaw homelessness and camping within city limits. Canton is just one of the cities that has hopped on this trend, however, what this movement often fails to address is how to actually prevent homelessness.
There are several underlying issues within homelessness in Canton. One of the largest problems is the cost of living.
The Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio writes that in 2025, in order to afford rent on a two-bedroom apartment in Ohio, you have to make at least $22 an hour. Currently, the average Ohio renter makes roughly $18.50 an hour.
With the average wage and average rent not being equivalent in Ohio, people are having to go into more and more debt while trying to pay for a roof above their heads. Eventually, this leads to people being unable to afford the price of housing, and eventually becoming homeless.
Although there are many affordable housing options available, one example being small or tiny houses, Canton so far has not looked into or started any solutions outside of homeless shelters. For people like Billy, this can lead to disastrous results.
For more information on Canton’s new anti-camping bill, visit the Canton Repository. For information on how to help individuals who are homeless, you can visit the National Alliance to End Homelessness.
