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Most of the people reading this will do so from the comfort of a place they call home. At home, you have a comfortable place to sleep and privacy when you use the bathroom. You call for law enforcement officers when you need assistance and you don’t fear their sight. People with homes are unlikely to experience discrimination based upon their economic status. Nor do people with homes worry about being exiled from their community. Life is much different for people without homes. Homelessness can arise from a variety of circumstances but is almost always related to lack of money and affordable housing. Citizens experiencing homelessness are among our most vulnerable. Living in the streets, exposed to the elements, finding a place to sleep in peace and attending to other normal bodily functions make for a difficult existence. When these challenges are accompanied by the threat of arrest and prosecution for doing what we all must, then one may also experience fear and despair, or worse.

Michael Lambrix was supposed to die today. Three months ago his death warrant was signed by Governor Rick Scott. Michael was moved to a special “Death Watch” cell, steps from the execution chamber. He was fitted for his burial suit and was visiting with his friends and family for what he assumed would be the final time. However, thanks to the recent ruling from the United States Supreme Court that Florida’s death penalty statute is unconstitutional, Michael was allowed to challenge his sentence. Attorney Brian Stull of the ACLU Capital Punishment Project was among those who filed a brief on behalf of Michael. Last week the Florida Supreme Court agreed to a stay of execution while they sort out the question of which death row inmates might be entitled to a new sentence.