Inhumane Treatment

It was inhumane of the State of Nevada to cut off care and support for a family living in hot weather in Sacramento. This is also stupid because testimony was given that the longtime elderly family dog was living with Melody Rainwater and the minor child on June 6, 2024.

Either Nevada thought Melody had housing, or they thought, as stated in June, 2024 that Melody and the minor had no housing. Clark County and Las Vegas is no stranger to extreme hot and cold temperatures. Nevada recently passed new legislation to better protect people in Nevada. AB 96.

Melody and Nathan Rainwater and brother Michael Rainwater were made to suffer through an entire hot Sacramento summer because after support was cut off Melody could no longer afford rent. An unlawful detainer was filed against Melody. Melody and Nathan had to leave their apartment on June 28, 2025 just as the heat was ramping up. For all of July and August 2025 they slept and lived outside in the heat.

This amounts to cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment. In addition, at Melody’s age she has trouble regulating her internal temperature. If she starts to shiver she cannot warm up without external influence, blankets, heater. If she gets overheated she cannot cool down her own body.

Nevada’s violation of 14th amendment rights to procedural due process forced my family into illegal camping on private and public property. Due to the Supreme Courts recent decision to criminalize public camping, Nevada criminalized Melody for protesting the actions of Nevada.

Melody wanted the convenient forum laws in existence recognized and her divorce case tried in California.

This inhumane treatment has caused the family to be sleep deprived, run ins with law enforcement asking them to leave public property and not sleep there.

Sacramento’s shelter system is overrun with need. Melody and her sons have been waiting months, in the hottest weather for shelter beds. It is unclear when and if one will become available. A law enforcement officer, well meaning but misguided, suggested Melody get “pregnant” to increase her position in line for a shelter bed. Sacramento shelters run on a complicated ranking of “need” so yes pregnant women get moved ahead in line.

Melody has been proactive in asking City, County and CHP law enforcement where her family can legally sleep at night. The only answer is in their own rental home. Nevada is stupid for taking away the money Melody was using to provide a rental home and expenses for her minor child.