Criminalization doesn’t solve homelessness — it only makes it harder to escape.

Despite widespread understanding that everybody needs a safe place to sleep, the Supreme Court shamefully ruled that people experiencing homelessness are not included in the Constitution’s protections against cruel and unusual punishment.

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There are alternatives to arresting people that communities can act on now.

If a storm hit your city and displaced 500 people in a single shocking event, how would the city respond? Every community knows what to do in these emergencies — they have a disaster plan. The same model works for solving homelessness.

Communities that are making progress share key strategies, which include:

A shared, community-wide definition of what solving homelessness looks like and the belief that it’s possible
A collaborative, community-wide team that is accountable and working together as a command center
Comprehensive, real-time, by-name data on who is experiencing homelessness to continuously track progress and improve system performance
A racial equity focus to overcome racial disparities
Investments to address a nationwide shortage of safe, deeply affordable homes

No matter our race or income, we all need a safe place to sleep.

Homelessness is increasing across the country as more households struggle to make ends meet. Rent is too expensive, wages are too low, and we have seen decades of failed housing policies.
Fines and arrest records make it even harder for people to get and keep a roof over their heads.
The real solution is providing access to housing they can afford and the support services they need to become stable. Handcuffs do not get anyone closer to housing.

Criminalizing homelessness doesn’t work.

ineffective

Arresting or fining a person does not solve their housing problem. It accomplishes nothing.

Keeps people homeless longer

Not only are there fines, but the record follows a person attempting to secure a job and housing. It becomes a long-term barrier to exiting homelessness.

Distracts from solutions

Rather than punishing individuals without housing options, our communities should commit to the challenging yet sustainable work that has repeatedly proven effective in resolving homelessness.