How can we stop the criminalization of homelessness?

We are reaching out this week with some major updates about homelessness legislation.

We were recently made aware that the Tennessee lawmakers passed a bill that would make it illegal for people experiencing homelessness to sleep on public property. All it needs now is the governor’s signature to become official. This means that people without affordable housing could be fined up to $3,000 and placed in prison for up to six years, ever-increasing the cycle of homelessness. While that may seem like a different zip code under different circumstances, the reality is that this type of legislation can set a precedent and often has a devastating ripple effect. Here in New York City, we are seeing homelessness encampments cleared, people turned away from their only semblance of home and reluctant to accept the limited options available due to poor or ineffective conditions.

A few NYC lawmakers have proposed a new “Homeless Bill of Rights” that would provide a clear outline of the rights of people experiencing homelessness. In an ideal world our neighbors experiencing homelessness would innately have these rights, have easy access to services, and be treated with dignity. Unfortunately that is not always the case and while this bill will not ultimately solve homelessness and would be just a small step forward, it would ensure that individuals in need are aware of everything they have a right to like access to shelter with accommodations if needed, legal assistance, education, and more. This is the opposite of criminalization; this is what it means to be an advocate. So if a “Homeless Bill of Rights” in New York City is something you would support, please join the voices calling for support of our beloved community. 

Learn more about the legislation here.