Criminalizing Crisis

7/25/2019 Criminalizing Crisis

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Criminalizing Crisis:

The Criminalization of Homelessness in U.S. Cities

A Report by the

National Law Center on Homelessness & Poerty

Noember !"##

1411 K Street, NW, Suite 1400 Washington,

DC 20005

Phone: 202-638-2535Fa: 202-628-2!3! """#n$%horg

A$%UT TH NAT'%NAL LA(

CNTR

%N H%)LSSNSS & P%*RT+


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'he Nationa$ (a" Center on )o*e$essness + Poert is %o**itte. to so$utions that a..ressthe %auses o/ ho*e$essness, not ust the s*&to*s, an. "ors to &$a%e an. a..ressho*e$essness in the $arger %ontet o/ &oert#

'o this en., it e*&$os three *ain strategies: i*&a%t $itigation, &o$i% a.o%a%, an. &u$i%

e.u%ation# t is a &ersistent oi%e on eha$/ o/ ho*e$ess *eri%ans, s&eaing e//e%tie$ to/e.era$, state, an. $o%a$ &o$i% *aers# t a$so &ro.u%es inestigatie re&orts an. &roi.es $ega$an. &o$i% su&&ort to $o%a$ organiations#

For *ore in/or*ation aout the (a" Center an. to a%%ess &u$i%ations su%h as this re&ort,

&$ease isit its "esite at """#n$%horg#

LA( CNTR $%AR, %- ,'RCT%RS

2


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*asili/i Tsa0anos

Chair

Frie., Fran, )arris,

Shrier

+ a%oson ((P

1war1 )2Ni2holas

Vice-Chair

Si.$e ustin ((P

)ona To3ma

Secretary

Co**unit 7o$unteer

)i2hael Allen

Treasurer

i%roso/t Cor&oration

4enneth S. Ane2/stein

D( Pi&er

(illiam $rea/ey5 ),

ohns )o&ins 9niersit

Peter H. $resnanSi*&son, 'ha%her +

art$ett

((P

Tonya +. $3llo2/

Co**unit %tiist

An1y $eres

nteri* Dee$o&*ent +

Co**uni%ationsDire%tor

4aren C3nnin0ham

(ega$ Dire%tor

6eral1ine ,oetzer

)ousing ttorne

Ce2ilia ,os Santos

Pro ono Coor.inator

Patri2/ 6ain

ntern

$r32e Casino

Katten u%hin ;osen*an

((P

Ro1eri2/ ,eArment

Coington + ur$ing ((P

,ennis ,or0an

Fun.raising Consu$tant

Sally ,wora/7-isherPu$i% usti%e Center

)aria -os2arinis


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ri2 TarsDire%tor o/ )u*an;ights an.

Chi$.rens ;ightsProgra*s

Lo3ise (eissman

?&erations Dire%tor

TA$L %- C%NTNTS

%no"$e.g*ents

5


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Do*esti% #W# ;o$$e /or his &ie%e on his e&erien%es o/ ho*e$essness#

'e. ra%*an /or his re/$e%tions on an a.o%ates su%%ess stor#

Ste/ani Co, oo."in Pro%ter ((P )ogan (oe$$s enner +

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$o% ((P Katten u%hin ;osen*an ((P (atha* + Watins ((P i%roso/t

Cor&oration S%hu$te ;oth + =ae$ ((P Si.$e ustin ((P Si*&son 'ha%her +art$ett ((P Su$$ian + Cro*"e$$ ((P an. Wi$*er)a$e#

9e23tie S3mmary

Sin%e the Nationa$ (a" Center on )o*e$essness + Poert @the (a" CenterA an. the Nationa$Coa$ition /or the )o*e$ess re$ease. their $ast re&ort on the %ri*ina$iation o/ ho*e$essness,

Homes Not Handcuffs, in u$ 200, the housing an. ho*e$essness %risis in the 9nite. Stateshas .ee&ene. signi/i%ant$#

n its 2010 sure o/ 2! $arge %ities, the 9#S# Con/eren%e o/ aors osere. that 52 &er%ent

o/ %ities hae seen in in%rease in oera$$ ho*e$essness, "hi$e 58 &er%ent hae seen an in%reasein /a*i$ ho*e$essness# Further, a%ross the suree. %ities, an aerage o/ 2! &er%ent o/

ho*e$ess &eo&$e "ere turne. a"a /ro* e*ergen% she$ter .ue to $a% o/ s&a%e#1

Des&ite the /a%t that %o**unities a$$ oer the %ountr $a% a.eEuate a//or.a$e housing an.she$ter s&a%e, %ities are %ontinuing to &ena$ie &eo&$e /or%e. to $ie on our streets an. in &u$i%

s&a%es# Cri*ina$iation *easures o/ten &rohiit a%tiities $ie as s$ee&ingL%a*&ing, eating,sitting, an.Lor egging in &u$i% s&a%es an. in%$u.e %ri*ina$ &ena$ties /or io$ations o/ these

$a"s# So*e %ities hae een ena%te. restri%tions that &unish grou&s an. in.ii.ua$s /or sering/oo. to ho*e$ess &eo&$e# an o/ these *easures a&&ear to e .esigne. to *oe ho*e$ess

&ersons out o/ sight, or een out o/ a gien %it#

Criminalizing Crisis, the (a" Centers tenth re&ort on the %ri*ina$iation o/ ho*e$essness,2

&roi.es an oerie" o/ the %ri*ina$iation *easures in &$a%e a%ross the %ountr, as "e$$ asgui.an%e on ho" a.o%ates %an %o*at the* an. &ro*ote *ore %onstru%tie a$ternaties#'he re&ort su**aries the resu$ts o/ a nationa$ sure the (a" Center on the en/or%e*ent

o/ %ri*ina$iation *easures a%ross the %ountr, as "e$$ as a sure o/ the &arti%u$ar $a"s in&$a%e in 234 %ities an. the %hanges in those $a"s sin%e our 200 re&ort# Criminalizing Crisis

reie"s the %osts an. other i*&a%ts o/ %ri*ina$iation an. in%$u.es re%o**en.ations /or&o$i% %hange# 'he re&ort %on%$u.es that %ri*ina$iation *easures .o nothing to so$e the

&ro$e* o/ ho*e$essness# nstea., the /reEuent$ &er&etuate ho*e$essness, &$a%eunne%essar ur.ens on our %ri*ina$ usti%e sste*, an. io$ate ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s %ii$

an. hu*an rights# 'he re&orts %o*&rehensie .o%a% anua$ &roi.es gui.an%e an. too$s/or a.o%ates#

Types of Criminalization Measures

'he %ri*ina$iation o/ ho*e$essness taes *an /or*s, in%$u.ing:


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1 'he 9nite. States Con/eren%e o/ aors, )unger an. )o*e$essness Sure 2, 1 @De%# 2010A, aai$a$e at

htt&:LLus*aors#orgL&ressre$easesLu&$oa.sL2010)unger)o*e$essness;e&ort/ina$De%212010#&./#

2 N(C)P, >o Dire%t$ to ai$: re&ort ana$ing $o%a$ anti-ho*e$ess or.inan%es @11A @nine %itiesA 'he ;ight to ;e*ain No"here: re&ort on anti-ho*e$ess $a"s an. $itigation

in 16 9#S# %ities @13A No )o*e$ess Peo&$e $$o"e.: re&ort on anti-ho*e$ess $a"s, $i tigation an. a$ternaties in 4 9#S# %ities @14A ean S"ee&s: re&ort on

antiho*e$ess $a"s, $itigation an. a$ternaties in 50 9#S# %ities @16A ?ut o/ Sight, ?ut o/ in.M re&ort on anti-ho*e$ess $a"s, $itigation an. a$ternaties in 50 9#S# Cities

@1A

Nationa$ Coa$ition /or the )o*e$ess @NC)A an. Nationa$ (a" Center on )o*e$essness + Poert @N(C)PA, $$ega$ to e )o*e$ess: 'he %ri*ina$iation o/ ho*e$essness in the

9#S# @2002A Punishing Poert: 'he Cri*ina$iation o/ )o*e$essness, (itigation, an. ;e%o**en.ations /or So$utions @2003A NC) an. N(C)P, Drea* Denie.: 'he

Cri*ina$iation o/ )o*e$essness in 9#S# Cities @2006A N(C)P an. NC), )o*es Not )an.%u//s: 'he Cri*ina$iation o/ )o*e$essness in 9#S# Cities @200A#

Se$e%tie en/or%e*ent against ho*e$ess &ersons o/ see*ing$ neutra$ $a"s, su%h as$oitering, a"a$ing, or o&en %ontainer or.inan%es#

S"ee&s o/ %it areas in "hi%h ho*e$ess &ersons $ie in or.er to .rie the* out o/ thoseareas, /reEuent$ resu$ting in the .estru%tion o/ in.ii.ua$s &ersona$ &ro&ert, in%$u.ing

i*&ortant &ersona$ .o%u*ents an. *e.i%ation#


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Cit or.inan%e are /reEuent$ too$s /or %ri*ina$iing ho*e$essness# ?/ the 234 %ities suree.

/or our Prohiite. Con.u%t Chart @in the .o%a% anua$ &&en.iA:

40 &er%ent &rohiit H%a*&ingI in &arti%u$ar &u$i% &$a%es, "hi$e 16 &er%ent &rohiit

H%a*&ingI %it"i.e 33 &er%ent &rohiit sittingL$ing in &arti%u$ar &u$i% &$a%es 56 &er%ent &rohiit $oitering in &arti%u$ar &u$i% &$a%es, "hi$e 22 &er%ent &rohiit

$oitering %it"i.e an.

53 &er%ent &rohiit egging in &arti%u$ar &u$i% &$a%es, "hi$e 53 &er%ent &rohiit

HaggressieI &anhan.$ing an. 24 &er%ent &rohiit egging %it"i.e#

'he tren. o/ %ri*ina$iing ho*e$essness %ontinues to gro"# *ong the 188 %ities reie"e./or the &rohiite. %on.u%t %hart in oth the 200 re&ort an. this re&ort, "e i.enti/ie. the/o$$o"ing in%reases in %ri*ina$iation *easures:

! &er%ent in%rease in &rohiitions on egging or &anhan.$ing

! &er%ent in%rease in &rohiitions on %a*&ing in &arti%u$ar &u$i% &$a%es an.

10 &er%ent in%rease in &rohiitions on $oitering in &arti%u$ar &u$i% &$a%es#

Impact of Criminalization on our Communities

When a %it uses $a"s or &o$i%ies to target ho*e$ess &eo&$e /or taing a%tions ne%essar totheir suria$, the i*&a%t is /e$t /ar an. "i.e# Whi$e &eo&$e e&erien%ing ho*e$essness are

a//e%te. *ost &ro/oun.$, these *easures a$so i*&a%t seri%e &roi.ers ai$it to .o their"or an. ta the a$rea. oerur.ene. %ri*ina$ usti%e sste*# 9$ti*ate$, &unishing

ho*e$ess &eo&$e /or %on.u%ting $i/e-sustaining a%tiities taes a to$$ on the entire %o**unit#

Sure res&on.ents &roi.e. stories o/ ho" %ri*ina$iation *easures hae i*&a%te. the* an.

the &eo&$e the sere# For ea*&$e:

Hn 2006, in /ront o/ Fre. or.an issionO, "as arreste. /or an outstan.ing "arrant

/or a /ai$ure to a&&ear in %ourt# "as taen to ai$ /or 0 .as an. .uring that ti*e $ost* Se%tion 8 an. >; @genera$ re$ie/A# e%ause "as gone /ro* * a&art*ent /or 30

.as, the *anager $ae$e. it aan.on*ent, "hi%h stae. on * re%or.# t too 4 ears

to get * housing a% "as ho*e$ess /or 4 ears#I Ro0er Albert Romero5 LosAn0eles5 CA

H'o"ar. the en. o/ 2010, a /a*i$ o/ t"o &arents an. three %hi$.ren that ha. eene&erien%ing ho*e$essness /or a ear an. a ha$/ a&&$ie. /or a 2-e.roo* a&art*ent#

'he .a e/ore a s%he.u$e. *eeting "ith the a&art*ent *anager .uring the /ina$ stageso/ a%Euiring the $ease, the /ather o/ the /a*i$ "as arreste. /or &u$i% urination# 'he

arrest o%%urre. at an hour "hen no &u$i% restroo*s "ere aai$a$e /or use# Due to thearrest, the /ather "as una$e to *ae the a&&oint*ent "ith the a&art*ent *anager an.

the &ro&ert "as rente. to another &erson# s o/ ar%h 2011, the /a*i$ "as sti$$

ho*e$ess an. sear%hing /or housing# nstea. o/ taing a ste& /or"ar. an. /ina$$

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esta$ishing a sta$e housing situation, the /a*i$s ho*e$essness %ontinue. .ue to this

&u$i% urination arrest#I

Seri2e Proi1er5 (enat2hee5 (A

H?ne o/ * %$ients $ost his i.enti/i%ation in a ho*e$ess s"ee& @"as %on/is%ate.,*is&$a%e., an. neer re%oere.L*ore than $ie$ it "as thro"n a"a the &o$i%e

%on.u%ting the rai.A# 'his *a.e it har.er /or us to assist hi* in a%%essing e*&$o*ento&&ortunities @.es&ite the /a%t he ha. seera$ o interie"s %o*ing u&A e%ause "e

ha. to %o*e u& "ith *one to get hi* a irth %erti/i%ate ND ne" i.enti/i%ation &rior

to the interie"s# %%essing /inan%ia$ resour%es an. or.ering the irth %erti/i%atereEuire. *ore

ti*e than "e ha., so he *isse. out on so*e o/ the o&&ortunities "e ha. set u& /orhi*#I 8essie )26raw5 +(CA Salem5 Salem5 %R

Cri*ina$iation *easures are a$so %ost$ an. .rain $i*ite. &u$i% resour%es#

n 2004, a stu. /ro* 'he (e"in >rou& on the %osts o/ sering ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s in

nine .i//erent %ities a%ross the 9#S# /oun. su&&ortie housing to e the %hea&est o&tionin a..ressing the nee.s o/ ho*e$ess &eo&$e "hen %o*&are. to ai$s, &risons, an. *enta$

hos&ita$s# For seera$ %ities, su&&ortie housing "as a$so /oun. to e %hea&er thanhousing ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s in she$ters#1

'he Fe.era$ Strategi% P$an to


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'he >reater Cin%innati Coa$ition /or the )o*e$ess ana$e. the ai$ roster /or )a*i$ton

Count ai$s a$*ost eer .a et"een ugust 28, 2006 an. Noe*er 2, 2006# ?naerage, 5#68 &er%ent o/ the ai$ &o&u$ation "as ho*e$ess an. the ai$s "ere oer

%a&a%it eer .a the .ata "as %o$$e%te.# )o"eer, i/ those ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s ha.not een arreste. an. ai$e., the ai$ "ou$. not hae een oer %a&a%it on an one o/

those .as#

un%o*e Count, North Caro$ina /o$$o"e. 3! %hroni%a$$ ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s oer

a three-ear &erio. an. .is%oere. that these in.ii.ua$s "ere arreste. 1,2!1 ti*es oerthree ears, resu$ting in a tota$ ai$ %ost o/ Q2!8,000#3

9tahs $argest ho*e$ess she$ter, 'he ;oa. )o*e, stu.ie. ho*e$essness %osts an. /oun.

that the annua$ %osts /or a &erson in &er*anent su&&ortie housing is aout Q6,100#'hen the stu.ie. the annua$ %osts o/ she$ter, ai$, an. hos&ita$ seri%es an. /oun. the*

to e

*u%h higher: Q6,600 /or she$ter at the ;oa. )o*e, Q25,500 in the Sa$t (ae Count

ai$, Q35,000 in the State &risons, an. Q146,!30 in the State enta$ )os&ita$#4


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Cri*ina$iing ho*e$essness is not on$ sense$ess /ro* a &o$i% &ers&e%tie, ut a$so runs%ounter to *eri%as $ong histor o/ a$uing an. &rote%ting /airness an. usti%e#

Legal Problems with Criminalization Measures

Cri*ina$iation *easures raise %onstitutiona$ Euestions, an. *an o/ the* io$ate the %ii$

rights o/ ho*e$ess &ersons# Courts hae /oun. %ertain %ri*ina$iation *easures to eun%onstitutiona$# For ea*&$e:

(a"s that restri%t or &ena$ie egging *a raise /ree s&ee%h %on%erns, as %ourts hae

/oun. egging to e &rote%te. s&ee%h un.er the First *en.*ent#

When a %it .estros a ho*e$ess &ersons e$ongings, su%h a%tions *a io$ate theFourth *en.*ent right to e /ree /ro* unreasona$e sear%hes an. seiures#

When a %it en/or%es a $a" that i*&oses %ri*ina$ &ena$ties on a ho*e$ess &erson /or

engaging in ne%essar $i/e a%tiities su%h as s$ee&ing in &u$i%, su%h a $a" %ou$. io$atethat &ersons


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%a*&aign $o%a$ an. nationa$ a.o%ates @in%$u.ing the (a" CenterA, an. resu$te. in a

ne" &o$i% that "i$$ a$$o" in.ii.ua$s to re*ain on these &ro&erties .uring usinesshours as $ong as the are not io$ating an o/ the usiness %o.es# 'he ne" gui.e$ines

"i$$ &reent *an unne%essar an. aritrar arrests o/ ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s#

P3yall3p5 (A.n 2010, Pua$$u& &asse. an or.inan%e that a$$o"s re$igiousorganiations to host te*&orar en%a*&*ents /or ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s# 'he or.inan%e"as the resu$t o/ an a.o%a% %a*&aign, in "hi%h the (a" Center &arti%i&ate., to

a..ress the &ersistent ho*e$ess s"ee&s an. en/or%e*ent o/ anti-%a*&ing $a"s .es&ite a%$ear $a% o/ a//or.a$e housing or she$ter s&a%e#

)inneapolis an1 Hennepin Co3nty5 )N. n anuar 200!, )enne&in Count.ee$o&e. a 10-ear &$an to a..ress ho*e$essness# s &art o/ the &$an, the Street

?utrea%h Progra* "as %reate. to %onne%t ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s "ith nee.e. seri%esan. .iert the* /ro* ino$e*ent "ith the %ri*ina$ usti%e sste*# 'he &rogra* has

su%%ee.e. in housing a nu*er o/ in.ii.ua$s in a..ition to re.u%ing the a*ount o/&u$i% .o$$ars s&ent on ea%h ho*e$ess &erson#

%rlan1o5 -L.?n%e a *onth in ?r$an.o, goern*ent agen%ies an. $o%a$ seri%e&roi.ers %o*e together /or an eent %a$$e. Dignit, "hi%h he$&s ho*e$ess &ersons

a&&$ /or arious t&es o/ goern*ent i.enti/i%ation# 'he *ost %o**on$ a&&$ie.-/orare .riers $i%enses, So%ia$ Se%urit %ar.s, an. irth %erti/i%ates# 'he /irst Dignit

eent "as he$. in a 2008 it has he$&e. oer 6,500 ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s se%uree*&$o*ent, housing, an. &u$i% ene/its#

National. 'he 100,000 )o*es Ca*&aign, $aun%he. in u$ 2010, is a nation"i.e

%a*&aign to house 100,000 %hroni%a$$ ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s u$ 2013# 'he%a*&aign is an initiatie o/ Co**on >roun., an. &roi.es a /ra*e"or that $o%a$

a.o%ates use to $eerage housing resour%es in their %o**unities# s o/ u$ 2011,oer 10,300 in.ii.ua$s hae een house. through the &rogra*#

6lobal 9amples

S2otlan1. n 2003, S%ot$an. &asse. a $a" that %reates an i**e.iate right to te*&orarhousing /or ino$untari$ ho*e$ess &eo&$e "ith %ertain &riorit nee.s, "ith the

assu*&tion that the "i$$ e *oe. "ithin a ear to &er*anent housing# Prioritgrou&s in%$u.e those /$eeing .o*esti% ause, .isa$e. &eo&$e, %hi$.ren, an. those

reentering so%iet /ro* the &rison sste*# 'he &riorit nee.s test "i$$ e &hase. out

2012, resu$ting in a right to housing /or a$$ ho*e$ess &eo&$e#

Ar0entina.n rgentina, the re/ugee an. *igrant grou& oi*iento 'erritoria$ .e

(iera%iUn @'(A re%eie. *uni%i&a$ /un.ing to %reate a $arge-s%a$e, *ie.-housing&roe%t %a$$e. the onteagu.o %o*&$e# '( traine. its o"n *e*ers to ui$. the

%o*&$e, an. %reate. retai$ an. %o**una$ s&a%es in a..ition to housing#

4enya.'hrough a %o$$aoration et"een resi.ents o/ an in/or*a$ sett$e*ent in Nairoi

an. ar%hite%ts, &$anners, sureors, the %it %oun%i$, $o%a$ uniersities, an. $o%a$

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%o**unit organiations, sett$e*ent resi.ents hae een a$e to gain tit$e to the $an.

on "hi%h the $ie an. %onstru%t ho*es /or the*se$es#

Policy ecommendations

n a..ition to reie"ing *o.e$s /ro* aroun. the %ountr an. g$oe, %ities %an tae %on%reteste&s to ensure ho*e$ess &ersons rights are &rote%te. an. that *ore he$&/u$ a&&roa%hes to

ho*e$essness are &ursue.# Su%h ste&s shou$. in%$u.e:


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'ntro132tion

Sin%e the re$ease the Nationa$ (a" Center on )o*e$essness + Poert @the (a" CenterAan. the Nationa$ Coa$ition /or the )o*e$ess o/ their $ast re&ort on the %ri*ina$iation o/

ho*e$essness,Homes Not Handcuffs,in u$ o/ 200, the housing an. ho*e$essness %risis inthe 9nite. States has %ontinue. to "orsen, &arti%u$ar$ .ue to the e%ono*i% an. /ore%$osure

%rises# ?/ the 2! %ities suree. /or the 2010 9#S# Con/eren%e o/ aors re&ort on )ungeran. )o*e$essness, 52 &er%ent re&orte. an in%rease in oera$$ ho*e$essness in 2010 an. 58

&er%ent re&orte. an in%rease in /a*i$ ho*e$essness#!'he aerage in%rease o/ the tota$ho*e$ess &o&u$ation in those %ities "as 2 &er%ent, "ith the nu*er o/ ho*e$ess /a*i$ies

in%reasing &er%ent#8Further, a%ross the suree. %ities, an aerage o/ 2! &er%ent o/

ho*e$ess &eo&$e .i. not re%eie nee.e. assistan%e, su%h as e*ergen% she$ter#11

'he 200 )unger an. )o*e$essness Sure %on.u%te. the 9#S# Con/eren%e o/ aors

&ainte. a si*i$ar &i%ture: 82 &er%ent @22 o/ 2!A o/ %ities suree. in 200 re&orte. haing to*ae a.ust*ents to a%%o**o.ate an in%rease in the .e*an. /or she$ter oer the ear 25

&er%ent o/ reEuests /or e*ergen% /oo. assistan%e "ent un*et in 200 an. there "as a 26&er%ent aerage in%rease in .e*an. /or hunger assistan%e, the $argest aerage in%rease sin%e

11#'he 2010 nnua$ )o*e$ess ssess*ent ;e&ort to Congress, "hose nu*ers *a e

%onseratie, /oun. that 38 &er%ent o/ ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s are unshe$tere., $iing on thestreets or another area uninten.e. /or hu*an haitation#10

oth the e%ono*i% %risis in genera$ an. the in%rease. nu*er o/ &eo&$e eing ei%te. /ro*

/ore%$ose. &ro&erties hae %ontriute. to the gro"ing ho*e$ess &o&u$ation#11 'hese %hanges/urther stress the resour%es o/ $o%a$ seri%e &roi.ers an. in%rease .e*an. /or seri%es#

! 9#S# Con/eren%e o/ aors, )unger an.

)o*e$essness Sure: Status ;e&ort on)unger an. )o*e$essness in *eri%as

Cities, 2!-Cit Sure 2 @De%e*er

2010A#

8 .# 11 .#

9#S# Con/eren%e o/ aors, )unger an.

)o*e$essness Sure: Status ;e&ort on)unger an. )o*e$essness in *eri%asCitiesVa 2!-Cit Sure ! @200A#

10 9#S# De&art*ent o/ )ousing an. 9ranDee$o&*ent, 'he 2010 )o*e$ess

ssess*ent ;e&ort to Congress, aai$a$e athtt&:LL"""#hu.hre#in/oL.o%u*entsL2010)o

*e$essssess*ent;e&ort#&./ @$ast isite.u$# 24, 2011A#

15


16/107

'he in%rease in .e*an. has &$ae. out &ro*inent$ at the $o%a$ $ee$# 'he San Fran%is%o

Coa$ition /or the )o*e$ess re&orte. an in%rease in .e*an. /or seri%es o/ 300 &er%ent /or/a*i$ies an. 50 &er%ent /or in.ii.ua$s#12Fro* 200 to 2010, ari%o&a Count, riona, sa"

a 2! &er%ent in%rease in the nu*er o/ /a*i$ies $iing on the street#13

(o"-in%o*e /a*i$ies an. in.ii.ua$s /a%e great .i//i%u$t in /in.ing a//or.a$e $iing s&a%es#'here is %urrent$ no state in the 9#S# "here an in.ii.ua$ "oring /u$$-ti*e at *ini*u*"age %an a//or. to rent an aerage 2-e.roo* a&art*ent at Fair aret ;ent# 14..itiona$$,in 200, a.eEuate a//or.a$e housing units "ere on$ aai$a$e to 32 &er%ent o/ etre*e$$o"-in%o*e @


17/107

2010 to a$$o" re$igious organiations to host te*&orar en%a*&*ents#16n a *ore &re%arious

ea*&$e /ro* &ri$ 2011, a seri%e &roi.er in Pa.u%ah, Kentu% sent a &regnant "o*an an.her husan. an. three i.s to a tent %it in the "oo.s a/ter in/or*ing the* there "as no she$ter

s&a%e aai$a$e /or the*#1!'hese are on$ a %ou&$e o/ ea*&$es o/ the gro"ing nu*er o/&eo&$e /or%e. to $ie outsi.e in en%a*&*ents aroun. the %ountr#18

Des&ite the /a%t that %o**unities a$$ oer the %ountr .o not hae a.eEuate a//or.a$e

housing or she$ter s&a%e, %ities are %ontinuing to &ena$ie &eo&$e /or%e. to $ie on ourstreets an. in our &u$i% s&a%es# Su%h *easures o/ten &rohiit a%tiities su%h as

s$ee&ingL%a*&ing, eating, sitting, an.Lor egging in &u$i% s&a%es, an. in%$u.e %ri*ina$&ena$ties /or io$ations o/ these $a"s# So*e %ities hae een ena%te. restri%tions that

&unish grou&s an. in.ii.ua$s /or sering /oo. to ho*e$ess &eo&$e# an o/ these*easures a&&ear to hae the &ur&ose o/ *oing ho*e$ess &eo&$e out o/ sight, or een out

o/ a gien %it#

>ien the .ire $a% o/ a.eEuate a//or.a$e housing an. she$ter s&a%e in %ities a%ross the

%ountr, $a"s that &ena$ie ho*e$ess &eo&$e /or engaging in a%tiities nee.e. /or suria$"hi$e in &u$i% &$a%es essentia$$ %ri*ina$ie the status o/ eing ho*e$ess#

'his re&ort, the (a" Centers tenth re&ort on the to&i%, &roi.es a &i%ture o/ the%ri*ina$iation *easures in &$a%e a%ross the %ountr, as "e$$ as gui.an%e on ho" a.o%ates

%an %o*at the* an. &ro*ote *ore a&&ro&riate a$ternaties#


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ho*e$ess &ersons to se%ure &er*anent housing an. e*&$o*ent# Cri*ina$iing ho*e$essness

a$so "astes s%ar%e &u$i% resour%es#

Persisting "ith this a&&roa%h *aes no sense /ro* a &o$i% &ers&e%tie an. %an io$atein.ii.ua$s rights un.er .o*esti% $a" an. internationa$ hu*an rights $a"#

/ %ities are %on%erne. aout their resi.ents $iing on the streets an. in &u$i% s&a%es, there area$ternatie, *ore &ro.u%tie "as o/ .ea$ing "ith the issue o/ ho*e$essness# nu*er o/

%ities here in the 9#S# an. aroa. hae /oun. "as to hu*ane$ an. &ositie$ a&&roa%h street

ho*e$essness# ?ur re&ort in%$u.es ea*&$es that %an sere as *o.e$s /or %ities a%ross the%ountr# n a..ition, %ities %an tae %on%rete ste&s to institute &o$i%ies an. &ro%e.ures that

ensure ho*e$ess &eo&$es rights are &rote%te.# Further, our re&ort in%$u.es suggestions /or ho"the /e.era$ goern*ent %an &$a a ro$e in .is%ouraging %ri*ina$iation#

n a..ition to &roi.ing in/or*ation aout the %ri*ina$iation o/ ho*e$essness, this re&ort

in%$u.es an a.o%a% *anua$ to he$& a.o%ates, seri%e &roi.ers, attornes, an. ho*e$ess

&eo&$e %o*at su%h %ounter&ro.u%tie $a"s an. &o$i%ies# 'he re&ort &roi.es in/or*ation on$ega$ an. non-$ega$ strategies the %an use in their o"n %o**unities#

?ur %o**unities *ust /in. a etter "a /or"ar. i/ "e hae an ho&e o/ a..ressing theoer"he$*ing nu*er o/ *eri%ans /a%ing ho*e$essness# Without &utting a sto& to the

%ri*ina$iation o/ ho*e$essness, our %ities an. our %ountr .o not hae a %han%e o/su%%ess/u$$ ta%$ing this *ora$, so%ia$, e%ono*i%, an. hu*an rights &ro$e*# 9$ti*ate$, our

so%iet %an e *easure. the usti%e an. hu*aneness "ith "hi%h our %o**unities treat our*ost u$nera$e neighors#

S3rey Res3lts

n ar%h an. &ri$ 2011, the Nationa$ (a" Center on )o*e$essness + Poert %on.u%te. anation-"i.e sure o/ ho*e$ess seri%e &roi.ers, a.o%ates, an. ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s aout

%ri*ina$iation &ra%ti%es "ithin their %ities# ?era$$, the sure resu$ts sho" that $a"s targetingho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s are "i.es&rea. throughout the 9nite. States, though so*e res&on.ents

in%$u.e. in/or*ation aout *ore &ositie a&&roa%hes to ho*e$essness as "e$$#

Whi$e so*e areas o/ the %ountr are oerre&resente. in the sure .ata, the resu$ts o/ thesure &roi.e a sna&shot o/ the in.s o/ *easures that are in &$a%e aroun. the %ountr#

Profile of Respon1ents

18


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'he (a" Center re%eie. 154 res&onses to the sure /ro* &eo&$e in 26 .i//erent states# ?/

in.ii.ua$s "ho ans"ere. the sure, 43 &er%ent "ere a.o%ates /or ho*e$ess &eo&$e, 51&er%ent "ere seri%e &roi.ers, an. 6 &er%ent in.i%ate. that the are %urrent$ or /or*er$

ho*e$ess# ;es&on.ents in%$u.e. a.o%a% %oa$itions, %o**unit .ee$o&*ent organiations,housing &roi.ers, she$ters, re$igious grou&s, hea$th authorities, sustan%e ause su&&ort

seri%es, e*&$o*ent seri%es, outrea%h "orers, *ea$ .istriutors, an. others#

Prealen2e of Criminalization Pra2ti2es

?er 50 &er%ent o/ res&on.ents in.i%ate. that their %ities en/or%e $a"s targeting ho*e$ess&eo&$e in ea%h o/ the /o$$o"ing %ategories: %a*&ingLs$ee&ing in &u$i%, &anhan.$ing, an.

$oitering# 'hough not %ri*ina$ie. as /reEuent$, 33 &er%ent o/ in.ii.ua$s in.i%ate. that their%it *aintains restri%tions on si.e"a$-sitting, an. another 34 &er%ent %ite. restri%tions on

&u$i% storage o/ e$ongings#

'he sure a$so ase. &arti%i&ants to re&ort on arrests an. %itations /or %ri*ina$ie. a%tiities#

'he &er%entages o/ res&on.ents "ho re&orte. arrests, %itations, or oth /or %ertain a%tiities intheir %ities are as /o$$o"s:

Pu$i% urinationL.e/e%ation: !3 &er%ent

Ca*&ingLs$ee&ing in &u$i%: 55 &er%ent

(oitering: 55 &er%ent

Panhan.$ing: 53 &er%ent

Pu$i% storage o/ e$ongings: 20 &er%ent an.

Si.e"a$-sitting: 1 &er%ent#

?/ the res&on.ents that in.i%ate. en/or%e*ent o/ the aoe or.inan%es in their %ities, the

rea.o"n o/ arrests an. %itations issue. /or those io$ations are re/$e%te. in the %hart e$o"#

1


20/107

When ase. "hether ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s are .is&ro&ortionate$ targete. $a" en/or%e*ent,65 &er%ent o/ res&on.ents sai. that the e$iee. ho*e$ess &eo&$e are *ore $ie$ than other

in.ii.ua$s to e gien %itations an.Lor arreste. /or si*i$ar io$ations# ?/ that 65 &er%ent o/res&on.ents, oer !0 &er%ent /e$t that ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s are .is&ro&ortionate$ %ri*ina$ie.

in ea%h or a$$ o/ the /o$$o"ing %ategories: io$ation o/ o&en %ontainer an.Lor &u$i% intoi%ation$a"s, $oitering, an. &u$i% urinationL.e/e%ation#

an o/ the res&on.ents in.i%ate. that their %ities &er/or* s"ee&s o/ ho*e$ess en%a*&*ents

in a..ition to %ri*ina$iing the a%tiities o/ ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s:

20


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Has Your City Engaged in Sweeps of Areas

Where Homeless People Are Living?

62%14%

24%Yes

No

Don't Know

Does Your City ypi!ally "ive #oti!e of

$p!oming Sweeps?

35%

42%

23%

Yes

No

Don't Know

?/ the res&on.ents "ho re&orte. s"ee&s in their %it, *an sai. that their %o**unit .oes notgie noti/i%ation e/ore &er/or*ing a s"ee& or retain the e$ongings o/ ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s

a/ter a s"ee (a% o/ noti/i%ation e/ore a s"ee& an. .estru%tion o/ &ro&ert "ithout

o&&ortunit /or retriea$ has genera$$ een /oun. to e un%onstitutiona$:

21


22/107

Does Your City %etain the &elongings of Homeless

'ndividuals for %etrieval After a Sweep Has

(!!urred?

17%

37%

46%

Yes

No

Don't Know

22


23/107

Conse3en2es of Criminalization

an res&on.ents re&orte. that *easures to %ri*ina$ie ho*e$essness hae *a.e it *ore

.i//i%u$t /or ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s to a%%ess %o**unit resour%es:

23


24/107

Prevalen!eAmong%espondent)sCities

24


25/107

)o*e$ess seri%e &roi.ers "ho ans"ere. the sure %o**on$ note. that %ri*ina$iation*easures hae *a.e it .i//i%u$t /or the* to sta in %onta%t "ith ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s an.

esta$ish a re$ationshi& "ith ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s#

..itiona$$, o/ the res&on.ents "ho re&orte. s"ee&s in their %ities, oer !5 &er%ent sai. thats"ee&s hae /or%e. ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s to re$o%ate to a ne" %it or to another area "ithin

their %it an. that ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s hae $ost a$ua$es, *e.i%ations, i.enti/i%ation.o%u*ents, or other &ersona$ ite*s .ue to s"ee&s# ?er 50 &er%ent o/ res&on.ents "ho

re&orte. s"ee&s sai. that s"ee&s hae $e. ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s to $ose %onta%t "ith ho*e$essseri%e &roi.ers#

Reso3r2e Nee1

?/ sure &arti%i&ants "ho re&orte. restri%tions on &u$i% %a*&ingLs$ee&ing,

urinationL.e/e%ation, or storage o/ e$ongings, oer 80 &er%ent in.i%ate. that their %ities $a%

su//i%ient resour%es in ea%h o/ the /o$$o"ing %ategories: she$ter e.s, &u$i% athroo*s, an./reeto-$o" %ost storage o&tions /or the &ersona$ e$ongings o/ ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s that $ieoutsi.e#

When a$$ res&on.ents "ere ase. "hat resour%es are nee.e. /or their %it to *ore e//e%tie$

a..ress ho*e$essness, the in.i%ate. nee. a*ong seera$ areas:

25


26/107

Prevalen!eof#eedAmong%espondents)Cities

26


27/107

A11itional S3rey 'nformation

Sure res&on.ents a$so share. stories aout the %onseEuen%es o/ %ri*ina$iation &ra%ti%es ons&e%i/i% in.ii.ua$s or /a*i$ies in their %it# Seera$ re%urring the*es a&&eare., in%$u.ing $oss

or the/t o/ &ersona$ &ossessions @es&e%ia$$ o/ i.enti/i%ation .o%u*entsA an. .i//i%u$t inse%uringL*aintaining housing or e*&$o*ent .ue to a %ri*ina$ re%or. /ro* a

%ri*ina$iationre$ate. %itation or arrest# Seera$ o/ those stories are in%$u.e. throughout this

re&ort#

an sure res&on.ents a$so re&orte. that ra%ia$ *inorities are oerre&resente. in their %itiesho*e$ess &o&u$ations#

;es&on.ents a$so "ere ase. a series o/ short-ans"er Euestions aout ho*e$essness in their

%it# When ase. aout &ositie &ra%ti%es that their %ities engage in to a..ress ho*e$essness,so*e res&on.ents s&oe o/ &o$i%e-%o**unit &artnershi&s, .ee$o&*ent or e&ansion o/

ho*e$ess assistan%e %enters an. &rogra*s, an. %it &$ans /or en.ing ho*e$essness or.ee$o&ing *ore a//or.a$e housing units#

Con2l3sion

'he resu$ts sho" that *ost %ities suree. are engaging in so*e /or* o/ %ri*ina$iation

&ra%ti%e an. that *an %ities .o not *eet the nee.s o/ ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s in their%o**unities# ..itiona$ e//orts to .ee$o& an. i*&$e*ent %onstru%tie a$ternaties to

%ri*ina$iation "i$$ a$$o" those %ities to etter sere their ho*e$ess &o&u$ations#

2!


28/107

Homeless ,emo0raphi2s

n.ii.ua$s that are un/a*i$iar "ith ho*e$essness issues *a thin the ho*e$ess &o&u$ation%onsists on$ o/ &eo&$e "ho $ie out on our streets, in our &ars, or in other &u$i% s&a%es#

Whi$e these in.ii.ua$s are %ertain$ an i*&ortant suse%tion o/ the ho*e$ess &o&u$ation,*an others e&erien%e ho*e$essness in a situation that is inisi$e to the genera$ &u$i%# 'his

&art o/ the ho*e$ess &o&u$ation *a $ie in she$ters, *ote$s, or .ou$e. u& "ith /a*i$ or/rien.s#

?/ten, &eo&$e *a not rea$ie that the atten. s%hoo$ or "or "ith so*eone e&erien%ing

ho*e$essness, sin%e ho*e$essness ha&&ens /or a "i.e nu*er o/ reasons to &eo&$e /ro* aariet o/ a%groun.s# When a.o%ates e.u%ate the &u$i% aout ho*e$essness an. &ut a

hu*an /a%e on the issue, the rest o/ their %o**unit *a .ee$o& a *ore %o*&assionateres&onse to those strugg$ing to /in. a ho*e#

Causes of Homelessness

stu. %on.u%te. in 200 an. 2010 the 9#S# Con/eren%e o/ aors /oun. that

ho*e$essness "as %ause. .i//ering /a%tors /or .i//erent &o&u$ations# n househo$.s "ith%hi$.ren, ho*e$essness "as *ost o/ten .ue to une*&$o*ent, $a% o/ a//or.a$e housing,

&oert, $o"&aing os, an.Lor .o*esti% io$en%e# For ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s "ithout %hi$.ren,

$a% o/ a//or.a$e housing "as the *ost &rea$ent %ause o/ ho*e$essness# 'he net *osti*&ortant %auses "ere *enta$ i$$ness an.Lor sustan%e ause "ithout a%%ess to nee.e.

seri%es, an. oera$$ &oert#1


29/107

So*e &eo&$e *a thin that ho*e$essness is .ue to &s%ho$ogi%a$ or *ora$ i*&air*entV

essentia$$ that /a%tors o/ an in.ii.ua$s &ersona$it or $i/e %hoi%es are the $argest reasons /orho*e$essness# 'he resear%h has sho"n this ie" to e in%orre%t#


30/107

ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s an. &eo&$e $iing on the streets are o/ten the *ost isi$e o/ a$$ ho*e$ess

&eo&$e an. there/ore *a e the asis o/ the aerage &ersons &er%e&tions o/ oera$$ho*e$essness#

Sheltered vs. nsheltered:&&roi*ate$ 40 &er%ent o/ ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s %ounte. in 200

"ere $iing on the streets or in another unshe$tere. situation# 'he rest o/ the ho*e$ess&o&u$ation "as she$tere. in so*e "a#2! *aorit o/ the %o**unities suree. in 200

/oun. an in%rease in the &ro&ortion o/ ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s "ho are she$tere. ersus ho*e$essin.ii.ua$s "ho are unshe$tere., *aing ho*e$essness an een $ess isi$e e&erien%e /or

*an &eo&$e#28

!ndividuals vs. "amilies:'he *aorit o/ the ho*e$ess &o&u$ation %onsists o/ in.ii.ua$s# n200, on$ 34#1 &er%ent o/ ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s "ere *e*ers o/ a /a*i$ e&erien%ing

ho*e$essness# )o"eer, the &er%entage o/ /a*i$ ho*e$essness has een on the rise /a*i$ho*e$essness in%rease. /ro* 131,000 /a*i$ies in 200! to 1!0,000 /a*i$ies in 200, a 20

&er%ent in%rease#2

#mployment: 1 stu. /oun. that 44 &er%ent o/ ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s suree. ha.

&er/or*e. &ai. "or "ithin the &ast *onth# ?/ those, 20 &er%ent "ere "oring in os that"ere e&e%te. to $ast /or at $east three *onths, an. 25 &er%ent "ere e*&$oe. through a

te*&orar &osition or .a $aor o#30

25 9#S# De&art*ent o/ )ousing an. 9ranDee$o&*ent, Chroni% )o*e$essness,

aai$a$e at

htt&:LL"""#hu.#goLo//i%esL%&.Lho*e$essL%hroni%#%/* @$ast isite. a 4, 2011A#

26 Nationa$ $$ian%e to


31/107

$ge:)o*e$ess &eo&$e are er rare$ e$.er$ in.ii.ua$s# ?n$ 2#8 &er%ent o/ the she$tere.ho*e$ess &o&u$ation is 62 ears or *ore in age#31'his statisti% is unsur&rising sin%e

ho*e$essness has een asso%iate. "ith higher .eath rates an. shorter $i/e e&e%tan% thanaerage# So*e esti*ates in.i%ate that ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s are 3-4 ti*es *ore $ie$ to .ie

than &eo&$e in the genera$ &o&u$ation#32..itiona$$, ea%h ear, an esti*ate. 1#5 to 2 *i$$ionouth are ho*e$ess#33

Su%stance $%use and &ental !llness:ase. on esti*ates /ro* the Point-n-'i*e %ount,

a&&roi*ate$ one-thir. o/ ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s /oun. in ho*e$ess she$ters ha. a %hroni%sustan%e ause &ro$e* an. one-Euarter /a%e. seere *enta$ i$$ness# 'hese statisti%s sho" an

oerre&resentation o/ sustan%e ause an. *enta$ i$$ness a*ong the ho*e$ess &o&u$ation "hen%o*&are. to the genera$ &o&u$ation, ut a$so sho" that those "ho /a%e these %ha$$enges on$

re&resent a *inorit o/ the ho*e$ess &o&u$ation oera$$#3!

'omestic Violence:n 200, i%ti*s o/ .o*esti% io$en%e *a.e u& 12 &er%ent o/ the she$tere.ho*e$ess &o&u$ation#34

i @De%# 1A, athtt&:LL"""#uran#orgL9&$oa.e.PDFLho*e$

essness#&./#

31 9#S# De&art*ent o/ )ousing an. 9ran

Dee$o&*ent, 'he 2010 nnua$ )o*e$essssess*ent ;e&ort to Congress, at 1!,

aai$a$e athtt&:LL"""#hu.user#orgLPu$i%ationsL&./L20

0Rho*e$essR508#&./#

32 Nationa$ )ea$th Care /or the )o*e$ess

Coun%i$, Pre*ature orta$it in )o*e$essPo&u$ations: ;eie" o/ the (iterature,

aai$a$e athtt&:LL"""#nh%h%#orgLPre*atureorta$itFi

na$#&./#

33 Nationa$ (a" Center on )o*e$essness+ Poert, Ke Data Con%erning )o*e$ess

Persons in *eri%a, 2 @u$# 200A, aai$a$eat htt&:LL"""#n$%horgL# 3! 9#S#De&art*ent o/ )ousing an. 9ran

Dee$o&*ent, 'he 200 nnua$ )o*e$essssess*ent ;e&ort to Congress, at 16, 18

@un# 2010A, aai$a$e athtt&:LL"""#hu.user#orgLPu$i%ationsL&./L20

0Rho*e$essR508#&./#

34 .# 3 .#

31


32/107

H!V($!'S:Four &er%ento/ the she$tere. ho*e$ess &o&u$ation in 200 ha. )7LDS, 3an.so*e esti*ates &ut 50 &er%ent o/ in.ii.ua$s "ith DS as ho*e$ess or at i**e.iate ris o/

ho*e$essness#35

)ender:&&roi*ate$ 64 &er%ent o/ ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s are *a$e an. 36 &er%ent are/e*a$e#36

*ace: inorities are oerre&resente. in the ho*e$ess &o&u$ation, *aing u& 62 &er%ent o/

she$tere. ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s, an. /ri%an *eri%ans in &arti%u$ar are high$oerre&resente.#3!n 200 /ri%an *eri%ans re&resente. near$ 40 &er%ent o/ the she$tere.

ho*e$ess &o&u$ation#

n %ontrast, /ri%an *eri%ans "ere on$ aout 12#4 &er%ent o/ the oera$$ 9#S# &o&u$ation#38

Veterans: )o*e$ess in.ii.ua$s are t"i%e as $ie$ to e eterans as in.ii.ua$s in the genera$

&o&u$ation#3

35 Nationa$ (a" Center on )o*e$essness+ Poert, Ke Data Con%erning )o*e$ess

Persons in *eri%a, at 5, 2 @u$# 200A, athtt&:LL"""#n$%horgL#

36 .# at 1#

3! 9#S# De&art*ent o/ )ousing an. 9ran

Dee$o&*ent, 'he 200 nnua$ )o*e$essssess*ent ;e&ort to Congress, at 22, 18

@un# 2010A, aai$a$e athtt&:LL"""#hu.user#orgLPu$i%ationsL&./L20

0Rho*e$essR508#&./#

38 .# at 23#

3 Nationa$ Coa$ition /or )o*e$ess7eterans, FX out )o*e$ess 7eterans,

@$ast isite. a 4, 2011A, athtt&:LL"""#n%h#orgLa%groun.#%/*#

32


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"oster Care:u$/ Coast as a resu$t o/)urri%ane Katrina# 'he stor* ruine. *u%h o/ that areas housing sto%, an. as a resu$t,

ho*e$essness tri&$e. et"een 2005 an. 200#42

..itiona$$, so*e states hae higher &o&u$ations o/ ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s than others# n200, Ca$i/ornia ha. a ho*e$essness %ount o/ 133,12 in.ii.ua$s, re&resenting aout 0#36

&er%ent o/ the state &o&u$ation43, "hi$e 'eas re&orte. on$ 36,!61 ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s,re&resenting aout 0#15 &er%ent o/ the state &o&u$ation 50# ?ther states "ith a high &o&u$ation o/

ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s in%$u.e F$ori.a an. Ne" Gor, "hi$e states su%h as South Daota an.Wo*ing hae a er $o" nu*er o/ ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s# F$ori.a, Nea.a, an. Ca$i/ornia

40 ?n the oe, Nationa$ Foster Care

Gouth Statisti%s, @$ast isite. a 4, 2011A,athtt&:LL"""#onthe*oeaarea#orgLno.eL56

1# 46 Chi$. We$/are (eague o/ *eri%a,Progra*s an. ;esour%es /or Gouth ging

?ut o/ Foster Care, @$ast isite. a 4,2011A, at

htt&:LL"""#%"$a#orgL&rogra*sL/oster%areLagingoutresour%es#ht*#

41 Nationa$ Coa$ition /or the )o*e$ess,

)ea$th Care an. )o*e$essness, @$ast isite.a 4, 2011A, athtt&:LL"""#nationa$ho*e$ess#orgL/a%tsheetsL

hea$th#ht*$#



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hae &arti%u$ar$ high housing %ost ur.ens# n these three states, oer 80 &er%ent o/ those at

the Fe.era$ Poert (ee$ @FP(A &a 50 &er%ent or *ore o/ *onth$ in%o*e in rent#44

Criminalization Ne0atiely 'mpa2ts the (hole Comm3nity

When a %it uses $a"s or &o$i%ies to target unshe$tere. ho*e$ess &eo&$e /or .oing things the

*ust .o to surie, the i*&a%t is /e$t /ar an. "i.e# Whi$e &eo&$e e&erien%ing ho*e$essness/ee$ the *ost &ro/oun. i*&a%t o/ these *easures, these a$so hin.er seri%e &roi.ers "or an.

ta the a$rea. oerur.ene. %ri*ina$ usti%e sste*# 9$ti*ate$, &unishing ho*e$ess &eo&$e/or %on.u%ting $i/e-sustaining a%tiities taes a to$$ on our entire %o**unit in oth tangi$e

an. intangi$e "as#

Criminalization ,eh3manizes People an1 Perpet3ates

Homelessness

'he i*&a%t o/ %ri*ina$iation *easures on &eo&$e e&erien%ing ho*e$essness is &ro/oun.#

'hese $a"s an. &o$i%ies a//e%t the* in *an "as, /ro* io$ating their asi% hu*an .ignit, to

i*&airing their hea$th, to th"arting their er ai$it to *oe out o/ ho*e$essness#


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;' Remember the ,ay ' (ent to 8ail#W# ;o$$e, St# Petersurg, F$ori.a

"as in a &ar aout /ie *inutes e/ore %$osing ti*e, an. the %o&s to$. *e to $eae# ha. a $ot

o/ stu// "ith *e * e..ing an. t"o suit%ases# ?ne o/ the suit%ases "as rea$$ a trun# 'hatone ha. the *aorit o/ * %$othes in it# 'he other one ha. * &a&ers $ie * irth %erti/i%ate, anoe$ ha. een "oring on /or three ears, * &i%tures an. $etters thought "ere i*&ortant,an. * e$e%troni% stu//, su%h as * ra.io an. a &hone out o/ *inutes /or the *o*ent#

Four %o&s to$. *e to $eae the &ar, so .ragge. one suit%ase to the e.ge o/ the &ar an. "as"a$ing a% to get the other one "hen three %ars surroun.e. *e# 'he &o$i%e u*&e. out an.arreste. *e# H'res&assing,I the sai. an. H/ai$ure to oe a era$ %o**an.#I HWe to$. ou to$eae,I one o/ the* sai.# HGou no" the &ar %$oses at e$een#I

*ust %on/ess .i.nt thin *u%h o/ the %o&s in those .as# )o*e$essness an. the &o$i%e .i.nt

*i then, an. sti$$ .ont# trie. to e&$ain that "as going a% to get the rest o/ * &ro&ertan. the ust shrugge.# HGou got too *u%h stu// an"as,I one o/ the* sai.# Hn. "ere notaout to tear the &a&er"or uI

H(ets go to ai$ then,I sai.# H'hin * not going to e out to*orro"M 'hin the u.ge is goingto senten%e *e to a o an. a houseM * going to re&ort ou gus /or "asting gasYI

'hat too a it o/ the sting out o/ the* an. s*i$e. in"ar.$# 'he %u//e. *e so tight$ that *han.s "ere as$ee& the ti*e "e got to the ai$#

35


36/107

'he net *orning "e $ine. u& an. *ar%he. to %ourt# 'he gu in /ront o/ *e ha. thro"n /ue$ onhis gir$/rien. an. trie. to $ight it# 'he gu ehin. *e ha. shot u& so*e gus *others housee%ause she sai. he "asnt there an. he %a$$e. her a $iar# When she s$a**e. the .oor in his /a%e,he s&rae. the house "ith u$$ets#


37/107

So*e o/ the a&art*ents een ha. the /urniture sti$$ in the*# 'he ho*e$ess *oe. in, uteerone "asnt a$$o"e. to sta there# "as#

starte. to "a$ to"ar.s the ho$e in the /en%e "hen hear. *se$/ eing hai$e. a harsh"his&ere. hiss# $ooe. to"ar.s the .ire%tion o/ the soun. an. sa" so*eone /ranti%a$$

"aing /ro* the ushes# re%ognie. hi*, an. %rou%h "a$e. oer to the ush# t "asKentu% o# )e "as the $ea.er o/ the sEuat house# oine. hi* %rou%hing in the ush#

HWhats u&MI ase.# H'here are aout si %o& %ars on the /ront $a"n#


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n St# Petersurg, F$ori.a, a 60-ear-o$. ho*e$ess *an "ho is a .iaeti% "as arreste./or urinating in &u$i% at 1:00 a#*# "hen no restroo*s "ere aai$a$e# )e s&ent a .a in

ai$ as a resu$t an. in%urre. a Q300 /ine#45

n oise, .aho, a ho*e$ess *an "as arreste. /or s$ee&ing outsi.e un.er the %its

anti%a*&ing or.inan%e an. sere. 0 .as in ai$ /or the Ho//ense,I een though the%it ha. ina.eEuate she$ter s&a%e at the ti*e#46

During her isit to the 9nite. States in ear$ 2011, 9N n.e&en.ent roun. Sa%ra*ento, an. (oaes an. Fishes, 'esti*on o/ Sa/e >roun. Sa%ra*ento on the Statu s o/ )o*e$ess Persons %%ess to

Water an. Sanitation in Sa%ra*ento, Ca$i/ornia, 2 @Fe# 28, 2011A See a$so, Sa%ra*ento Count De&art*ent o/ )u*an ssistan%e )o*e$ess Progra*s 200 Point-in-'i*e

)o*e$ess Count, Su**ar ;e&ort, at 1, aai$a$e at htt&:LL"""#sa%%ount#netL%os"%*sLgrou&sL&u$i%LZ"%*LZ&uLZ%osL.o%u*entsL"e%ontentLsa%R018568#&./#

4 9N n.e&en.ent


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su//i%ient io$ation o/ hu*an .ignit eing &ena$ie. /or .oing the* is .ee&$.ehu*aniing#

Criminal Re2or1s Create $arriers to mployment5 Ho3sin0 an1 Seri2es

When ho*e$ess &ersons are in%ar%erate. /or io$ating the range o/ $a"s that target the* /or%on.u%ting $i/e-sustaining a%tiities in &u$i%, their ai$it to a%%ess seri%es an. housing or

*aintain e*&$o*ent is ha*&ere.# eing a$e to a%%ess seri%es an. housing an. *aintaine*&$o*ent is %ru%ia$ to he$&ing ho*e$ess &eo&$e *oe out o/ ho*e$essness# n%ar%erating

ho*e$ess &eo&$e /or .oing things the *ust .o to surie on$ &ro$ongs their ho*e$essnessan. ene/its no one#

'he %o$$atera$ %onseEuen%es o/ haing een an arrest or *inor o//ense on ones re%or. %an

resu$t in ine$igii$it /or &u$i% housing an. .i//i%u$t in /in.ing e*&$o*ent#


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through sta//ing agen%ies#52When so*eone is in%ar%erate. un.er a HEua$it o/ $i/eI or.inan%e,

that &erson "i$$ *iss "or,

$eaing hi* or her at greater ris /or $osing his or her o# Without a stea. sour%e o/ in%o*e,

*oing out o/ ho*e$essness e%o*es that *u%h har.er#

n a..ition to arriers %reate. arrests, %ri*ina$ re%or.s %an %reate een *ore &ro$e*s /or&eo&$e tring to otain "or#

n a re%ent sure o/ *ost$ $arger e*&$oers, oer 0 &er%ent &er/or*e. a %ri*ina$

a%groun. %he% on so*e or a$$ o a&&$i%ants#53

'hirt-eight out o/ 50 states &er*it e*&$oers to as aout or re$ on arrests that neerresu$te. in %oni%tions "hen *aing e*&$o*ent .e%isions# Fie states @C', D


41/107

a&&$i%ant "hi%h %onsi.ers the nature an. grait o/ the o//ense@sA, the ti*e that has &asse.

sin%e the %oni%tion an.Lor %o*&$etion o/ the senten%e, an. the nature o/ the o he$. orsought#55/ e*&$oees tae these three /a%tors into a%%ount, *inor run-ins "ith the $a" or

o//enses /ro* the .istant &ast shou$. not ar a&&$i%ants /ro* eing %onsi.ere.#56Get, there areseera$ ea*&$es o/ e*&$oers issuing $anet &o$i%ies that in%$u.e not on$ Hno /e$onI

%oni%tion &o$i%ies, ut a$so no arrests "hatsoeer or *is.e*eanor %oni%tions# So*e reEuirea s&ot$ess %ri*ina$ histor#

Criminalization Creates 5arriers to $ccessing Services

n other %ir%u*stan%es, in.ii.ua$s *a e engage. in a &rogra*, re%eiing or e$igi$e /or

&u$i% ene/its, or re%eiing seri%es /ro* a $o%a$ seri%es &roi.er# When a ho*e$ess &ersonis in%ar%erate., he or she "i$$ e una$e to a%%ess seri%es, &u$i% ene/its, or *aintain %onta%t

"ith the seri%e &roi.er, %reating another arrier in *oing out o/ ho*e$essness#

For ea*&$e, Su&&$e*enta$ Se%urit n%o*e @SSA an. other ene/its are sus&en.e. "hi$e a&erson is in%ar%erate.# Whi$e SS ene/its, sus&en.e. .ue to in%ar%eration o/ $ess than one

ear, *a e reinstate. i/ the ho*e$ess re%i&ient *aes an in-&erson reEuest at a So%ia$Se%urit .*inistration o//i%e i**e.iate$ /o$$o"ing re$ease, SS ene/its sus&en.e. .ue to

$onger &erio.s o/ in%ar%eration reEuire a ne" a&&$i%ation an. the ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$ "i$$ e/or%e. to "ait /or seera$ *onths e/ore their ene/its are reinstate.#5!

So*e states een &rohiit .e/en.ants "ith outstan.ing *is.e*eanor "arrants /ro* getting%ertain ene/its# For ea*&$e, Penns$ania &rohiits .e/en.ants /ro* %o$$e%ting %ash

55 9#S#


42/107

assistan%e or *e.i%a$ assistan%e i/ the &erson o"es /ines, %ourt %osts, or restitution, regar.$ess

o/ "hether &a*ents are a %on.ition o/ &roation#58

Criminalization Creates 5arriers to $ccessing Housing

?ther ti*es, &eo&$e e&erien%ing ho*e$essness *a e atte*&ting to otain housing an. haethose e//orts th"arte. "hen arreste. un.er *easures that %ri*ina$ie ho*e$essness# ?ne o/ oursure res&on.ents "ho is a seri%e &roi.er in Wenat%hee, Washington, share. su%h a stor /ro*one o/ the /a*i$ies she has sere.#

Toard the end of 60/0, a family of to parents and three children that had %een

e4periencing homelessness for a year and a half applied for a 6-%edroom

apartment. The day %efore a scheduled meeting ith the apartment manager

during the final stages of acAuiring the lease, the father of the family as arrested

for pu%lic urination. The arrest occurred at an hour hen no pu%lic restrooms

ere availa%le for use. 'ue to the arrest, the father as una%le to ma3e the

appointment ith the apartment manager and the property as rented out toanother person. $s of &arch 60//, the family as still homeless and searching for

housing. !nstead of ta3ing a step forard and finally esta%lishing a sta%le housing

situation, the familyBs homelessness continued due to this pu%lic urination arrest.

n a..ition, e%$usionar housing &o$i%ies are a signi/i%ant arrier to otaining housing /or

ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s "ith %ri*ina$ re%or.s# Des&ite the nee. o/ *an ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s/or &er*anent housing, *an Pu$i% )ousing uthorities @P)sA use oer$ e%$usie

&o$i%ies "hen .eter*ining "hether an a&&$i%ant "ith a %ri*ina$ re%or. is e$igi$e /or &u$i%housing# n 16, )9D .ee$o&e. gui.e$ines to &ress P)s to s%reen tenants /or %ri*ina$

re%or.s an. its H?ne Strie >ui.eI %a$$s on P)s to Htae /u$$ a.antage o/ their authorit to

use stringent s%reening an. ei%tion &ro%e.ures#I5

Get )9D regu$ations a$so &roi.e P)s "ith .is%retion an. a.ise P)s to tae into%onsi.eration the ti*e, nature, an. etent o/ an a&&$i%ants %on.u%t, an. the seriousness o/ the

o//ense#60)o"eer, the .o not reEuire P)s to .o an in.ii.ua$ie. ea$uations o/ "hether

58 .#

5 )9D, ?ne Strie an. Goure ?ut

S%reening an. ui.e$ines /orPu$i% )ousing uthorities, Noti%e P) 6-

16 @)A @16A, aai$a$e athtt&:LL&orta$#hu.#goLhu.&orta$L.o%u*entsLhu..o%Mi.TD?CR1081#&./#

60 24 CF; [ 60#[email protected] @200!A )9D,Pu$i% )ousing ?%%u&an% >ui.eoo, \\

4#6, 4#8 an. 4#10 @2003A, aai$a$e athtt&:LL&orta$#hu.#goLhu.&orta$L)9DM

sr%TL&rogra*Ro//i%esL&u$i%Rin.ianRhousingL&rogra*sL&hLrhii&L&hgui.eoo#

42


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a s&e%i/i% a&&$i%ant is $ie$ to &ose a ris to the sa/et o/ eisting &u$i% housing resi.ents

/e" o/ the* &roi.e a *eaning/u$ ea$uation e/ore issuing a ree%tion#

>ui.e$ines a$$o" P)s to ree%t a&&$i%ants ase. so$e$ on arrest re%or.s een i/ the %harges"ere .ro&&e. a/ter"ar.s#

n a 2003 sure o/ P)s aroun. the %ountr, *an ha. &o$i%ies a$$o"ing ine$igii$itase. on arrest re%or.s#61


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!na%ility to Pay "ines Can ead to $rrest or Dther Penalties

n *an %ases, %itations /or *inor o//enses hae *aor /ines atta%he. to the*# Fai$ure to &a

the* %an hae .ire %onseEuen%es#

Peo&$e are o/ten ai$e. een "hen the un.er$ing o//ense /or "hi%h the are %ite. .oes not

%arr a ai$ &ena$t, e%ause /ai$ing to &a the /ine asso%iate. "ith the ti%et %an resu$t in ai$ti*e# Sin%e the origina$ o//ense "as not &unisha$e ai$, the are o/ten not entit$e. to $ega$

re&resentation the Pu$i% De/en.ers o//i%e# 'here/ore, the "ou$. hae to re&resentthe*se$es in %ourt against a &o$i%e o//i%er or $o%a$ Distri%t ttorne "ho has %ourt training#

n (os nge$es Si. ;o", *an resi.ents hae /ie. *onth$ in%o*es et"een Q221 an.

Q850 a *onth, et the t&i%a$ /ine /or &e.estrian signa$ io$ations is et"een Q15 an. Q11#?ut o/ a$*ost 600 ti%ets .o%u*ente. an ( $ega$ %$ini% in 200, 0 &er%ent "ere /or

%ross"a$ io$ationsLa"a$ing# For those that re&orte. their .isai$it status, 60 &er%ent o/

re%i&ients o/ these ti%ets "ere .isa$e. an. %ou$. not %ross an interse%tion in ti*e .ue to their"hee$%hairs, "a$ers, or %anes# / un&ai., /ines %an in%rease to Q600 oer ust a /e" *onths#Due to these in.ii.ua$s eing una$e to &a the /ines, their .riers $i%enses *a e

sus&en.e. an. a "arrant /or their arrest *a e issue.#6!

Criminalization Harms Homeless Persons? Health

Cri*ina$iation *easures ea%erate the .etri*enta$ i*&a%t that ho*e$essness has on a

&ersons hea$th# Stu.ies o/ ho*e$ess &ersons in uran areas in.i%ate that the hae higher

*orta$it riss than the genera$ &o&u$ation#68%%or.ing to a 2005 stu. o/ ho*e$ess a.u$ts inNe" Gor Cit, the .eath rate o/ ho*e$ess a.u$ts "ho use. sing$e a.u$t she$ters "as t"i%e therate o/ the genera$ Ne" Gor Cit a.u$t &o&u$ation#6n this %ontet, $a"s or &o$i%ies that resu$t

in the $oss or .estru%tion o/ i*&ortant *e.i%ation or ee& ho*e$ess &ersons /ro* a%%essing/oo. or seri%es %an resu$t in een greater har* to those in.ii.ua$s $iing out on the streets#

66 CS Co$$atera$ ConseEuen%es

Proe%ts,htt&:LL"""2#a*eri%anar#orgLse%tionsL%ri*i

na$usti%eLC;206500LPagesL%o$$atera$#as

6! Co**unit-ase. )u*an ;ights

ssess*ent, at 1#

68 ?Conne$$, i*, et a$#, Pu$i% )ea$th

&&roa%h to ;e.u%ing ori.it an.orta$it *ong )o*e$ess Peo&$e in

oston, 11@4A ourna$ o/ Pu$i% )ea$thanage*ent an. Pra%ti%e 311-316 @2005A#

44


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an %ities engage in

Hs"ee&sI o/ areas "hereho*e$ess &eo&$e are

$iing# Su%h s"ee&sino$e a %it entit, either

$a" en/or%e*ento//i%ia$s or &u$i% "ors

o//i%ia$s, going through anarea "here ho*e$ess

&eo&$e are $iing an.%$earing out that area#

Whi$e so*e %ities gie

ho*e$ess &eo&$e noti%eo/ an s"ee&s an. &roi.e

an o&&ortunit /or &eo&$e toretriee their e$ongings

a/ter the s"ee&, a nu*er o/%ities hae not an. .o not#!0)o*e$ess &ersons *a

$ose er a$ua$e&ersona$ e$ongings,

in%$u.ing essentia$*e.i%ation, as a resu$t o/ s"ee&s#

Striing ea*&$es o/ su%h .estru%tion %o*e /ro* the %ir%u*stan%es o/ a $a"suit /i$e. against

the Cit o/ Fresno in 2006# Prior to the $a"suit, the %it ha. engage. in a &ra%ti%e o/ s"ee&ingareas "here ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s "ere $iing an. .estroing their &ro&ert#

?ne ho*e$ess &$ainti// ha. her she$ter an. a%&a% "ith i.enti/i%ation .o%u*ents

.estroe. .uring a s"ee s a resu$t, she "as /or%e. to s$ee& unshe$tere., "hi%h

%ontriute. to her %at%hing &neu*onia in oth $ungs#!1

6 Ne" Gor Cit De&art*ents o/ )ea$th

an. enta$ )giene an. )o*e$essSeri%es, 'he )ea$th o/ )o*e$ess .u$ts in

Ne" Gor Cit 1 @2005A, aai$a$e athtt&:LL"""#n%#goLht*$L.ohL.o"n$oa.sL&.

/Le&iLe&i-ho*e$ess-200512#&./#

!0 For *ore in/or*ation aout $a"suits

%ha$$enging su%h s"ee&s, see the CaseSu**aries in the .o%a% anua$

&&en.i#

!1 ?r.er >ranting Pre$i*inar nun%tion,

Kin%ai. # Cit o/ Fresno, 2006 W(3542!32, 8 @De%# 8, 2006A#

45

The city of Colum%ia in South Carolina has fe socialservices for homeless individuals. Shelter space is limited andseasonal, and individuals ho use shelters have to %e out %yearly morning and can return only at the end of the day. There

are very fe resources for case management or transportationto services. !n 60/0, a homeless oman in Colum%ia aspregnant and facing a domestic violence situation ith herpartner. 'uring daytime hours, hen she could not %e insideof a shelter, she attempted to spend time in a museum and astold to leave. She then attempted to sit on a %ench outside themuseum and as again told to relocate. !n several otherinstances, still during her pregnancy, the oman as told thatshe could not sit in a local par3 during the day %ecause sheould %e EsAuatting.F !n early 60//, a%out si4 months intoher pregnancy, the homeless oman %egan to feel unell,ent to a hospital, and delivered a still%orn child. Though theloss of the %a%y may not have %een a direct conseAuence of the

criminalization of this omanBs homelessness, an alternativelyconstructive approach in addressing her situation could haveled to a more positive outcome.

Charmaine Prim3s5 Restoration =Col3mbia5 SC>


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nother &$ainti// ha. her asth*a *e.i%ation an. the neu$ier *a%hine she use. toreathe .estroe. in one o/ the s"ee&s# She suseEuent$ s&ent *u%h ti*e in the

e*ergen% roo* e%ause o/ her untreate. asth*a, unti$ she "as a$e to otain her*e.i%ation @t"o *onths $aterA an. a ne" neu$ier @/ie *onths $aterA#!2

nother .isa$e. ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$ ha. her "hee$%hair an. *e.i%ation, a*ong othere$ongings, .estroe. .uring a s"ee s a resu$t, she an. her husan. suseEuent$

s$e&t unshe$tere., an. she en.e. u& in a %o*a /or t"o "ees#81

'hese are on$ so*e o/ the .isastrous %onseEuen%es o/ s"ee&s there are %ount$ess other

&eo&$e e&erien%ing ho*e$essness "ho su//er si*i$ar inuries#

n a..ition, in re%ent ears, %ities hae een &assing or.inan%es that restri%t grou&s that share

/oo. "ith ho*e$ess &eo&$e#!3When %ities i*&ose su%h restri%tions, the $i*it ho*e$ess&ersons ai$it to a%%ess sa/e, hea$th /oo., in%reasing the $ie$ihoo. that those &ersons "i$$

see /oo. /ro* unsanitar sour%es, su%h as garage %ans, "hi%h %an $ea. to a%ute i$$ness, or e

genera$$ un.ernourishe. an. *ore sus%e&ti$e to a host o/ other hea$th &ro$e*s#

Whi$e the hea$th %onseEuen%es o/ %ri*ina$iation *easures *a not a$"as e rea.i$a&&arent, the i*&a%t o/ su%h *easures %an e Euite grae# Cities shou$. tae these &otentia$hea$th %onseEuen%es into a%%ount "hen %onsi.ering s"ee&s, /oo. sharing restri%tions, oren/or%e*ent o/ other HEua$it o/ $i/eI $a"s#

Criminalization $3r1ens Seri2e Proi1ers5 8ails5 an1 other

'nstit3tions

Criminalization Hampers Proi1ers? Ability to Sere

Cri*ina$iation *easures %an hae a

signi/i%ant negatie i*&a%t on seri%e&roi.ers ai$ities to .o their "or, there

"asting &re%ious resour%es an. *aing itthat *u%h *ore .i//i%u$t /or ho*e$ess

&eo&$e to *oe out o/ ho*e$essness#

(ong at the /ore/ront o/ e//orts to en.

ho*e$essness, outrea%h &rogra*s %an e a%riti%a$ $in to %onne%t ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s $iing on the streets to seri%es# Su%%ess/u$outrea%h reEuires ui$.ing trust "ith in.ii.ua$s "ho are not rea%he. other seri%e

!2 .# at 11# 81 .# at 12#

!3 For *ore in/or*ation on these t&es o/ restri%tions see, Nationa$ Coa$ition /or the )o*e$ess an. Nationa$ (a" Center on )o*e$essness + Poert, P$a%e at the 'a$e:

Prohiitions on Sharing Foo. "ith Peo&$e


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&roi.ers,!4an. e//e%tie outrea%h taes ti*e#!5?utrea%h "orers *ust *eet ho*e$ess

in.ii.ua$s "here the are,!6an. *ust a%%e&t their ti*eta$e /or o&ening u& to a$$o" are$ationshi& to .ee$o& gra.ua$$#86n a..ition, &roi.ing a .esire. resour%e,!!su%h as a

nutritious *ea$, %an /a%i$itate the .ee$o&*ent o/ a trusting re$ationshi When that outrea%hnet"or is .isru&te., ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s *a *iss out on o&&ortunities that %ou$. he$& the*

*oe out o/ ho*e$essness#

When %ities target ho*e$ess &eo&$e through %ri*ina$iation *easures or s"ee&s, the/reEuent$ *oe the* /ro* $o%ations "here seri%e &roi.ers regu$ar$ rea%h the*, *aing it

*ore .i//i%u$t /or seri%e &roi.ers to .o their os# For ea*&$e, (in ;o*ano /ro* >oans


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res&on.ents, essie %>ra" o/ the GWC Sa$e* in Sa$e*, ?regon, e&$aine. the i*&a%t o/

the $oss o/ i.enti/i%ation .o%u*ents u&on her %$ients an. her "or#

Dne of my clients lost his identification in a homeless seep


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/ro* a serious *enta$ i$$ness,!the Sustan%e use an. enta$ )ea$th Seri%es

.*inistration has re&orte. that a&&roi*ate$ 3 &er%ent o/ &eo&$e "ho are ho*e$ess hae a

4


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*enta$ .isor.er#80n a..ition, an esti*ate. 50 &er%ent o/ a.u$ts "ith serious *enta$ .isor.ers

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"ho are ho*e$ess e&erien%e a sustan%e ause .isor.er as "e$$#81Po$i%e o//i%ers are o/ten

%a$$e. in to interene "ith ho*e$ess &eo&$e "ho are un.ergoing a seere *enta$ hea$th %risis,

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een though the *a not hae a.eEuate training#82nstea. o/ turning to $a" en/or%e*ent to

a..ress street ho*e$essness, %o**unities shou$. set u& %o$$aorations et"een seri%es&roi.ers an. &o$i%e .e&art*ents to ensure that &eo&$e in nee. re%eie a&&ro&riate seri%es#

!ncarcerating Homeless !ndividuals Costs &ore than Providing Housing

9sing the %ri*ina$ usti%e sste* to a..ress ho*e$essness %an e a er %ost$ a&&roa%h# 'he

%osts asso%iate. "ith %ri*ina$iing ho*e$essness in%$u.e $a" en/or%e*ent %osts, %ourt %osts,an. ai$ %osts# 'hese %osts ar /ro* %ount to %ount throughout the nation, an. are genera$$

higher than the %ost o/ &roi.ing she$ter or &er*anent housing#

For ea*&$e, in $a%hua Count, F$ori.a, i/ an o//i%er is issuing a %itation /or a *inor o//ense,he or she *a o&t to use the Noti%e to &&ear o&tion, "here the in.ii.ua$ agrees to a&&ear

in %ourt on a &arti%u$ar .ate an. ti*e /or a hearing on the un.er$ing o//ense# )o"eer, "henan in.ii.ua$ $a%s a &er*anent a..ress, state D, or %on/ir*e. ties to the %o**unit, o//i%ers

are una$e to uti$ie the Noti%e to &&ear o&tion# 'he *ust then arrest the in.ii.ua$ to ensure

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his or her a&&earan%e in %ourt# $a%hua Count esti*ate. the %ost to arrest, trans&ort, oo,

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house an. &ro%ess a &erson through First &&earan%e to e oer Q600 &er in%i.ent#83

n


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ho$.ing %osts unti$ their a&&earan%e e/ore a u.ge#84%%or.ing to %it .ata, the *e.ian gross

55


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rent in


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range. /ro* Q16#50 to Q38 &er night, "hi%h is 15-35 &er%ent the %ost o/ housing an in.ii.ua$

5!


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in ai$#86

n its 10-ear &$an, un%o*e Count in North Caro$ina /o$$o"e. 3! %hroni%a$$ ho*e$ess

in.ii.ua$s oer a three-ear &erio. an. .is%oere. that these in.ii.ua$s "ere arreste. 1,2!1ti*es oer three ears, resu$ting in a tota$ ai$ %ost o/ Q2!8,000# When &o$i%e %osts, &rose%ution

%osts, an. %ourt %osts are a..e. in, the tota$ %ost, a%%or.ing to the shei$$e Po$i%eDe&art*ent, %$i*s to aout Q10,000 &er &erson &er ear# 'he sa*e 3! in.ii.ua$s use. the


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hos&ita$iation %osts at ission )os&ita$s /or the sa*e ti*e &erio. "as Q425,000# 'he tota$

5


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.o%u*ente. *e.i%a$ %osts a*ounte. to a&&roi*ate$ Q5,500 &er &erson &er ear#8!

9tahs state"i.e 10-ear &$an /eature. a stu. 'he ;oa. )o*e, the states $argest ho*e$ess

she$ter @$o%ate. in Sa$t (ae CitA# 'he ;oa. )o*e stu.ie. ho*e$essness %osts an. /oun. thatthe annua$ %osts /or a &erson in &er*anent su&&ortie housing is aout Q6,100# 'hen the

stu.ie. the annua$ %osts o/ she$ter, ai$, an. hos&ita$ seri%es an. /oun. the* to e *u%hhigher: Q6,600 /or she$ter at the ;oa. )o*e, Q25,500 in the Sa$t (ae Count ai$, Q35,000 in

the State &risons, an. Q146,!30 in the State enta$ )os&ita$# 8

'he *eri%an Cii$ (ierties 9nion &u$ishe. a re&ort in 2010 re$ate. to in.igent .e/en.ants"ho are i*&risone. /or /ai$ing to &a $ega$ .ets generate. out o/ in%ar%eration# 'he re&ort

in%$u.es the stor o/ >regor White, a ho*e$ess *an in Ne" ?r$eans "ho "as arreste. /orstea$ing Q3 "orth o/ /oo. /ro* a $o%a$ gro%er store, resu$ting in Q33 in /ines an. /ees

i*&ose. u&on hi*# 'hese /ines an. /ees "ere $ater %onerte. into a %o**unit seri%esenten%e a/ter he "as ai$e. e%ause he %ou$. not &a the /ines# r# White s&ent a tota$ o/ 18

.as in ai$ e%ause he "as una$e to &a the /ines an. %ou$. not a//or. the us /are to

60


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%o*&$ete his %o**unit seri%e# n a$$, his in%ar%eration %ost the Cit o/ Ne" ?r$eans oer

61


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Q3,500#88

Criminalization &easures Contri%ute to Dvercroding in 7ails

s *an ai$s are a$rea. oer%ro".e., in%ar%erating ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s /or %on.u%ting $i/esustaining a%tiities in &u$i%, su%h as s$ee&ing, sitting, or asing /or *one on$ ea%eratesthe %ha$$enges /a%ing our ai$s# ?ur ai$s %ou$. e etter &ut to use to in%ar%erate in.ii.ua$s/or *ore serious %ri*es#

n one ea*&$e, the >reater Cin%innati Coa$ition /or the )o*e$ess ana$e. the ai$ roster /or

)a*i$ton Count ai$s a$*ost eer .a et"een ugust 28, 2006 an. Noe*er 2, 2006# ?naerage, 5#68 &er%ent o/ the ai$ &o&u$ation "as ho*e$ess an. the ai$s "ere oer %a&a%it

62


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eer .a the .ata "as %o$$e%te.# )o"eer, i/ those ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s ha. not een arreste.

63


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an. ai$e., the ai$ "ou$. not hae een oer %a&a%it on an one o/ those .as#8

stu. the Sheri//s .e&art*ent in Char$otte-e%$enurg Count, North Caro$ina /oun.

that 41 &er%ent o/ %hroni% o//en.ers "ere ho*e$ess, et the *aorit o/ their %ri*es "ere*is.e*eanors su%h as o&en %ontainers or &u$i% urination# 'he resear%hers /oun. that

re&eate. ino$e*ent o/ the sa*e in.ii.ua$s in the %ri*ina$ usti%e sste* resu$te. in

64


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sste*i% %ongestion an. ai$ %ro".ing#0?n an gien night, 20 &er%ent o/ ai$ %e$$s "ere

o%%u&ie. ho*e$ess o//en.ers, the *aorit o/ "ho* "ere nonio$ent, in nee. o/ housing

65


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not in%ar%eration#1

66


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s high$ighte. the re%ent 9#S# Su&re*e Court .e%ision in5ron v. Plata,2oer%ro".ing in

Criminalization 'mposes Costs to (i1er Comm3nity by Prolon0in0 Homelessness

When %ities use resour%es to %ri*ina$ie ho*e$essness, the u$ti*ate$ &ro$ong &erio.s o/ho*e$essness e&erien%e. targete. in.ii.ua$s# n turn, those in.ii.ua$s "ho hae.i//i%u$t *oing out o/ ho*e$essness as a resu$t o/ %ri*ina$iation *easures in%ur /urther

%osts ust re*aining ho*e$ess#

Perpetuating Homelessness Costs &ore than Providing Supportive(Permanent Housing

6!


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Peo&$e "ho are ho*e$ess are *ore $ie$ to a%%ess %ost$ hea$th %are seri%es# 3%%or.ing to a

stu. in the Ne"


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ho*e$essness#4

'he %ost e//e%tieness o/ su&&ortie housing is easi$ seen "ith .isa$e. in.ii.ua$s# 'heDener )ousing First Co$$aoratie @D)FCA %on.u%te. a Cost-ene/it na$sis ;e&ort on 1

.isa$e. ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s use o/ seri%es /or 24 *onths &rior to enro$$*ent an. 24

*onths a/ter enro$$*ent# Cost .ata /ro* the %$ini%a$ re%or.s "ere ana$e. to .eter*ine thee*ergen% roo*, in&atient *e.i%a$ or &s%hiatri%, out&atient *e.i%a$, .eto seri%es,in%ar%eration, an. she$ter %osts an. uti$iation# 'he tota$ e*ergen% re$ate. %osts /or the

sa*&$e grou& .e%$ine. !2#5 &er%ent, or near$ Q600,000 in the 24 *onths o/ &arti%i&ationin the D)FC &rogra* %o*&are. "ith the 24 *onths &rior to entr in the &rogra*#106

;ura$ ho*e$ess &eo&$e "ith .isai$ities "ho retaine. &er*anent, su&&ortie housing sa" are.u%tion in s&en.ing 32 &er%ent# 'he stu. .e/ine. &er*anent su&&ortie housing as

a//or.a$e housing /or those "ho are ho*e$ess, "here su&&ort seri%es /or &eo&$e "ith *enta$i$$ness or %o-o%%urring .isor.ers o/ *enta$ i$$ness an. sustan%e ause are aai$a$e, either

onsite or in other %o**unit $o%ations# 'he stu. a$so re&orte. a 5! &er%ent re.u%tion in the

6


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%ost o/ *enta$ hea$th seri%es oer a si-*onth &erio.# Part o/ that re.u%tion "as a .ra*ati%

!0


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! &er%ent .ro& in the %ost o/ &s%hiatri% hos&ita$iation, /ro* Q452,800 to Q6,641# 5

)ousing First &rogra* in Seatt$e, Washington, no"n as 1811


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Congressiona$ u.get ?//i%e esti*ate. the %ost &er housing ou%her as Q!,028#6n %ontrast,

the %ost o/ an e*ergen% she$ter e. /un.e. )9Ds rants &rogra* isa&&roi*ate$ Q15,05, or aout Q8,06! *ore than the aerage annua$ %ost o/ a Se%tion 8

)ousing Certi/i%ate#110 Se%tion 8 ou%her is %$ear$ a *ore %ost-e//e%tie *eans to %o*atho*e$essness#

Criminalization !mposes Dpportunity Costs

/o%using &o$i%e e//orts on .eterring inno%ent a%tiities ho*e$ess &eo&$e nee. to .o to

surie, a$ua$e resour%es are .ierte. a"a /ro* /ighting .angerous %ri*e# n Se&te*er2006, the Sa/er Cities nitiatie in (os nge$es a..e. 50 &o$i%e o//i%ers to target nar%oti%s-

re$ate. %ri*e an. *is.e*eanor o//enses in%$u.ing i$$ega$ en.ing, $ittering, a"a$ing,.u*&ing an. an.a$is* in the Si. ;o" area#111'he a..ition o/ these &o$i%e o//i%ers %ost the

%it Q6 *i$$ion annua$$ resour%es that %ou$. hae een &ut to etter use housing &eo&$e#

Cri*ina$iation *easures *ae it that *u%h *ore .i//i%u$t /or &eo&$e to *oe out o/ho*e$essness an. rea%h their /u$$ &otentia$ as a%tie *e*ers in our %o**unit# 'hese $ost

o&&ortunities hae a .ra*ati% i*&a%t not on$ in the in.ii.ua$ hu*an $ies tou%he. ho*e$essness, ut a$so our so%iet as a "ho$e#

$$o"ing *e*ers o/ our so%iet to re*ain ho*e$ess is a %ost$ %hoi%e# Proi.ing &er*anent

an.Lor su&&ortie housing is not on$ a *ore hu*ane a&&roa%h, ut %an a$so sae our%o**unities *one#

Criminalization *iolates Stan1ar1s of -airness

Cri*ina$iing ho*e$essness not on$ *aes no sense /ro* a &o$i% &ers&e%tie, ut is a$so

%ounter to *eri%an a$ues re$ate. to /airness an. usti%e# 'he *ora$ i*&eratie to %are /or the

nee.iest a*ong us an. &resere an. &rote%t the hu*an .ignit o/ a$$ &eo&$e is a .ee&$entren%he. *eri%an a$ue# t is re/$e%te. in the re$igious e$ie/s an. &ra%ti%es o/ *eri%ans o/

.ierse /aiths an. in our *ost sa%re. &o$iti%a$ "ritings an. /oun.ationa$ .o%u*ents# 'he tren.to"ar. %ri*ina$iing ho*e$essness, rather than "oring to %are /or an. e*&o"er &eo&$e "ho

are &oor, threatens to un.er*ine this .ee&$ he$. %u$tura$ a$ue that has oun. *eri%anstogether throughout histor#

%ross the 9nite. States, /aith-ase. organiations $ea. seri%e e//orts to a..ress

ho*e$essness an. &oert# t is no sur&rise then that !3 &er%ent o/ a$$ &antries, 65 &er%ent o/ a$$/oo. it%hens, an. 43 &er%ent o/ a$$ she$ters that &roi.e e*ergen% *ea$s /or &eo&$e in nee.

are /aith-ase.#112>ien the &ro*inen%e o/ a /aith-ase. a&&roa%h to a..ressing ho*e$essness,it is "orth"hi$e to ea*ine ho" %ri*ina$iation *easures, "hi%h harass an. io$ate the asi%

rights an. hu*an .ignit o/ ho*e$ess &eo&$e, *a e %ontrar to the /un.a*enta$ re$igious&rin%i&$es /ro* "hi%h the *eri%an &eo&$e see gui.an%e#

!2


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When >an.hi &ro%$ai*e., ] nations greatness is *easure. ho" it treats its "eaest*e*ers,] he s&oe not on$ o/ a .ee& *ora$it /e$t his /e$$o" )in.us ut a$so Christians,



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ho*e$ess#I!e"ish .o%trine e*&hasies seri%e to oth in an. strangers a$ie instru%ting

!4


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its /o$$o"ers to Hs&ea u&, u.ge righteous$, %ha*&ion the &oor an. the nee.#I8>o. hi*se$/

is e$iee. to hae %o**an.e., HShare our /oo. "ith the hungr, an. gie she$ter to the

!5


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ho*e$ess# >ie %$othes to those "ho nee. the*, an. .o not hi.e /ro* re$aties "ho nee. our

!6


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he$I

s$a* %ontains t"o %o*&$i*entar t&es o/ %harita$e giing, =aat an. sa.aEah# =aat, one o/

the re$igions /ie &i$$ars, is a *an.ator .onation o/ a /ie. &er%entage o/ e%ess "ea$th "hi$e

sa.aEah is its o$untar %ounter&art# us$i*s e$iee that =aat he$&s to &uri/ oth the gier

!!


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an. re%eier, an. the re"ar.s one re%eies oth .uring an. a/ter $i/e "i$$ e in%rease.

!8


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&ro&ortiona$ to the a*ount o/ sa.aEah gien#100

?ur *ost reere. &o$iti%a$ $ea.ers an. /oun.ationa$ .o%u*ents hae %arrie. on si*i$ar

&rin%i&$es# 'he De%$aration o/ n.e&en.en%e an. the 9#S# Constitution state, HWe ho$. thesetruths to e se$/-ei.ent, that a$$ *en are %reate. eEua$, that the are en.o"e. their Creator

"ith %ertain una$iena$e ;ights, that a*ong these are (i/e, (iert an. the &ursuit o/

!


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)a&&iness,I an. &ro*ote the Hgenera$ "e$/areI o/ a$$ our nations &eo&$e#101(anguage su%h as

this, .e*onstrates that &roi.ing /or ea%h other an. res&e%ting hu*an .ignit are /un.a*enta$to "ho "e are as an *eri%an &eo&$e#

For .e%a.es, &o$iti%a$ .ia$ogue has s&e%i/i%a$$ high$ighte. housing as a %riti%a$ e$e*ent o/ this

.ignit# ore than ha$/ a %entur a/ter Presi.ent ;oosee$t .e%$are. that the 9nite. States ha.a%%e&te. a Hse%on. i$$ o/ ;ights,I one that in%$u.e. the right o/ eer *eri%an to a .e%ent

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ho*e,102Presi.ent ?a*a e%hoe. the e$ie/ "hen he sai., Hust &ea%e in%$u.es not on$ %ii$

an. &o$iti%a$ rights it *ust en%o*&ass e%ono*i% se%urit an. o&&ortunit# For true &ea%e is

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not ust /ree.o* /ro* /ear, ut /ree.o* /ro* "ant#I103104Su%h &o$iti%a$ rhetori% has een

a%e. u& $a"s, $ie the )ousing ;ights %t o/ 164, "hi%h states Ht is the &o$i% o/ the9nite. States to &roi.e, "ithin %onstitutiona$ $i*itations, /or /air housing throughout the

9nite. States#I120

'hese notions o/ &roi.ing /or an. &rote%ting &eo&$e in nee. re/$e%t the *ost asi% o/ ourhu*an *ora$ities an. are .ee&$ roote. in our so%iet an. $a"s# )o"eer, "hen "e a$$o" an.

&ro*ote $a"s that target ho*e$ess &ersons, "e ris a ra%e to the otto* as our stan.ar.s o/%are egin to s$i.e .o"n"ar. "here "hat "as on%e %onsi.ere. the $east "e as a so%iet

shou$. .o /or those $ess /ortunate e%o*es the *ost "e "i$$ .o, an. the a%%e&ta$e stan.ar. o/treat*ent e%o*es sha*e/u$$ inhu*ane# (a"s that %ri*ina$ie isi$e ho*e$essness are

i**ora$ an. o//en. our asi% hu*an instin%ts# 'he are %ontrar to the /un.a*enta$ re$igiousan. &o$iti%a$ &rin%i&a$s /ro* "hi%h the *eri%an &eo&$e see gui.an%e, an. their eisten%e

.e*onstrates that "e hae /a$$en ast$ short o/ our re$igious an. /oun.ationa$ as&irations#'hese $a"s reEuire *eri%ans o/ a$$ /aiths an. &o$iti%a$ i.eo$ogies to oin together an.

a.o%ate against the*#

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Constr32tie Alternaties to Criminalization

,omesti2 9amples

Whi$e *an %ities hae $a"s an. &ra%ti%es that target ho*e$ess &eo&$e $iing in &u$i% s&a%es,so*e %ities hae &rogra*s an. initiaties that "or to sere the nee.s o/ ho*e$ess &eo&$e in a

*ore &ositie *anner# e$o" are ea*&$es o/ %onstru%tie a$ternaties to the %ri*ina$iationo/ ho*e$essness /ro* a ariet o/ %ities a%ross the 9nite. States#

Seattle5 (A: Re1efinin0 Property $anishment Poli2ies

n $ate 2010, the Cit o/ Seatt$e reerse. a &o$i%e &o$i% that a$$o"e. $a" en/or%e*ent o//i%ia$s

to an in.ii.ua$s /ro* &riate &ro&ert o&en to the &u$i%, su%h as stores an. %o//ee sho&s, /or

$itt$e or no reason# 'he ans, %a$$e. Htres&ass a.*onish*ents,I .is&ro&ortionate$ a//e%te.ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s essentia$$ %ri*ina$iing their state o/ eing ho*e$ess an. not hainga sta$e $o%ation in "hi%h to s&en. ti*e# n so*e instan%es, usinesses signe. %oa$ition ans,

so that an in.ii.ua$ anne. /ro* one usiness &ro&ert %ou$. e &rohiite. /ro* /reEuentinga$$ usinesses in a %o*&$e#

(o%a$ a.o%ates, "ith the su&&ort o/ the (a" Center, "ore. to"ar. the re/or* o/ &o$i%e-

issue. ans &rohiiting entr onto &riate &ro&ert o&en to the &u$i%# .o%ates an. the Citeentua$$ %a*e to an agree*ent that $e. to ao$ish*ent o/ the ans on &riate &ro&ert an. to

the %reation o/ a ne" sste* /or a..ressing o%%u&an% o/ these s&a%es#

(a" en/or%e*ent o//i%ia$s, usiness *e*ers, an. .e/ense $a"ers hae een "oring to.ee$o& the ne" set o/ ru$es# 'he ne" ru$es "i$$ a$$o" in.ii.ua$s to re*ain on these

&ro&erties .uring usiness hours as $ong as the are not io$ating an o/ the usiness %o.es#'he gui.e$ines "i$$ *ae it har.er /or the &o$i%e to &er/or* aritrar arrests o/ those "ho are

&resent on &riate &ro&ert o&en to the &u$i%#

nstea. o/ anning, usinesses hae .ee$o&e. stan.ar.s o/ %on.u%t /or those that /reEuenttheir &ro&ert# 'he stan.ar.s /or %on.u%t in%$u.e %$ear gui.e$ines &rohiiting entr on the

&ro&ert a/ter usiness hours an. io$ations o/ the Seatt$e uni%i&a$ Co.e# (a" en/or%e*ento//i%ers "i$$ on$ %onta%t in.ii.ua$s "ho are in io$ation o/ these %$ear gui.e$ines# 7io$ation

o/ these ru$es "i$$ no $onger resu$t in a an, ut rather a "arning regar.ing the ru$es o/ the

&ro&ert# SuseEuent io$ations o/ the stan.ar.s o/ %on.u%t *a resu$t in /urther en/or%e*ent,ut in.ii.ua$s "ho .o not io$ate the stan.ar.s are /ree to enter onto the &ro&ert#

Seatt$e is a$so eginning the &ro%ess o/ a..ressing si*i$ar ans "ithin the &ar sste*, "herean in.ii.ua$ %an e anne. /or u& to a ear /or an io$ation o/ a &ar ru$e# .o%ates are

en%ouraging the Cit to re%onsi.er ans /ro* other &u$i% &$a%es as "e$$, su%h as &u$i%trans&ortation an. $iraries#

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n "oring to %hange har*/u$ anning &ra%ti%es, Seatt$e is *aing &rogress in %reating an

eniron*ent "here ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s in &u$i% s&a%es %an e assiste. rather than%ri*ina$ie. as the "or to"ar. a etter $i/e situation#

For /urther in/or*ation, &$ease %onta%t nita Khan.e$"a$ at anita#han.e$"a$Z.e/en.er#org#

Portlan15 %R: The Portlan1 Loo

n 2006, Port$an. Co**issioner ;an. (eonar. initiate. the .ee$o&*ent o/ 'he Port$an.

(oo, an innoatie in. o/ &u$i% athroo* that stas o&en 24-hours a .a an. is &o"ere.%o*&$ete$ through so$ar energ# Current$, the Cit o/ Port$an. has a (oo in &$a%e in 4

se&arate $o%ations#

'he Port$an. (oo "as .ee$o&e. through a &artnershi& et"een the Cit, %o**unit grou&Pu$i% )giene (ets 9s Sta )u*an @P)(9S)A, .esigner Curtis anger, an. Port$an. $a"

en/or%e*ent o//i%ia$s# 'he /irst (oo "as insta$$e. in De%e*er o/ 2008 in ?$. 'o"n Port$an.#

Due to the %o$$aoration that "ent into .ee$o&*ent o/ the athroo*, 'he Port$an. (oo

a..resses &u$i% hea$th, &u$i% sa/et, %ost, &ortai$it an. other %on%erns# 'he athroo* is*a.e o/ .ura$e stain$ess stee$ an. intentiona$$ in%$u.es $ouers at the otto* so that &u$i%

sa/et o//i%ia$s *a see the /eet o/ in.ii.ua$s insi.e an. &reent i$$i%it a%tiit in the (oo#


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ui$. u&on the (oo sste* in Port$an.# s o/ une 2011, /our %ities hae sho"n initia$ interest

in &ur%hasing a (oo#

For /urther in/or*ation, &$ease re/er to """#&ort$an.$oo#%o*, or %onta%t nne )i$$, Cit o/Port$an., at nne#)i$$Z&ort$an.oregon#go#

P3yall3p5 (A: %r0anize1 n2ampments

ost %ities aroun. the %ountr .o not hae a.eEuate she$ter s&a%e or a//or.a$e housing to

*eet the nee., there $eaing *an ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s /or%e. to $ie in &u$i% s&a%es# Su%ha situation /reEuent$ $ea.s to ho*e$ess &ersons eing harasse. /or .oing things the nee. to

.o to surie# 'he Cit o/ Pua$$u&, Washington, has %o*e u& "ith a te*&orar "a toa..ress the situation in a *ore rea$isti% an. a&&ro&riate "a#

/ter a histor o/ s"ee&s an. en/or%e*ent o/ its anti-%a*&ing or.inan%e against the ho*e$ess

&o&u$ation .es&ite the .ire $a% o/ she$ter the Cit o/ Pua$$u& re%ognie. it nee.e. toa&&roa%h the issue o/ ho*e$essness in a *ore %onstru%tie *anner# SuseEuent to an intensie

a.o%a% %a*&aign "ith a %oa$ition o/ a.o%ates, in%$u.ing the (a" Center, the Pua$$u& CitCoun%i$ &asse. an or.inan%e in $ate 2010 that a$$o"s re$igious organiations to set u&

te*&orar en%a*&*ents /or ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s, a$$o"ing these grou&s to /u$$ eer%isetheir re$igious e$ie/s in the i*&ortan%e o/ &roi.ing resour%es /or ho*e$ess &eo&$e#121'he

en%a*&*ents are to hae a 40-&erson o%%u&an% rate, an. are eEui&&e. "ith /a%i$ities /or&ersona$ hgiene an. trash %o$$e%tion seri%es# ?n$ one 40-&erson en%a*&*ent *a e in

o&eration in the %it at an gien ti*e, an. "hen one en%a*&*ent %$oses a ne" organiation*a o&en one# ;esi.ents o/ the en%a*&*ents agree to ai.e a %o.e o/ %on.u%t that

&rohiits .rugs, a$%oho$, an. "ea&ons "ithin the en%a*&*ents# Due to the en%a*&*ents,ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s, "hi$e sti$$ in a te*&orar $iing situation, "i$$ e a$e to *aintain a

*ore &er*anent resi.en%e that &ro*otes sa/et, %o**unit, an. a%%ess to i*&ortant so%ia$seri%es# 'he esta$ish*ent o/ the or.inan%e *a a$rea. e $ea.ing to a .e%rease in

%ri*ina$iation &ra%ti%es, e%ause the or.inan%es esta$ish oth the rea$it o/ ho*e$essness inPua$$u& an. ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s nee. /or a se%ure $o%ation at "hi%h to resi.e#

Pua$$u& sti$$ has roo* to i*&roe the $iing situation o/ its unshe$tere. ho*e$ess &o&u$ation

raising the nu*er o/ in.ii.ua$s a$$o"e. in an en%a*&*ent, &er*itting non-re$igiousorganiations to host tent %ities, an. re.u%ing other arriers to en%a*&*ent a%%ess# n 2010,

Pua$$u&s esti*ate. ho*e$ess &o&u$ation "as 400 in.ii.ua$s,122an. the %it %urrent$ $a%ssu//i%ient she$ter s&a%e to *eet this nee.# 'he a..itiona$ she$ter &roi.e. 40 aai$a$e

s&a%es in tent %ities sti$$ .oes not *eet .e*an.#

Whi$e en%a*&*ents are %$ear$ not a $ong-ter* so$ution to ho*e$essness, the %an strengthenthe sa/et net /or ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s, an. &roi.e a sa/e $iing s&a%e /or ho*e$ess &eo&$e

"hi$e *ore $asting housing so$utions are .ee$o&e.# 'he Cit o/ Pua$$u&s "i$$ingness to"or in &artnershi& "ith $o%a$ a.o%a% grou&s to a..ress street ho*e$essness %an sere as a

*o.e$ /or other %ities /a%ing si*i$ar %ha$$enges#

For /urther in/or*ation, &$ease %onta%t 'e. ra%*an at t.ra%*anZ%o*%ast#net#

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121 For *ore in/or*ation aout this a.o%a% %a*&aign, see 'e. ra%*ans a%%ount, Hn .o%ates Su%%ess Stor,I in the .o%a% anua$#

122 Sara S%hi$$ing, Pua$$u& ?s S*a$$ 'ent Cities /or )o*e$ess @Se&t# 30, 2010A, aai$a$e at htt&:LL"""#thene"striune#%o*L2010L0L30L1362343L&ua$$u&-os-s*a$$-tent%ities#ht*$#

)inneapolis an1 Hennepin Co3nty5 )N

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rrests o/ ho*e$ess in.ii.ua$s %ost )enne&in Count Q1,440,80! et"een 2003 an. 2004#105

;e%ogniing that %ri*ina$iing ho*e$essness is %ost$ an. .oes not a..ress the root &ro$e*o/ ho*e$essness, )enne&in Count .ee$o&e. a 10-ear &$an in anuar 200! &ro&osing that a

)enne&in Count ?utrea%h Co$$aoratie e esta$ishe. to H.esign, i*&$e*ent, tra%, an.ea$uate the 24L! .is&at%hLoutrea%h tea*#I 'his e//ort %a$$s /or %o$$aoration et"een outrea%h

"orers, $a" en/or%e*ent, the Cit o/ innea&o$is, usiness o"ners, /aith %o**unities, an.

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others to "or

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