United Way Bay Area’s Post

Criminalization is not the solution. Arrests, fines, jail time, and criminal records make it even more difficult for individuals experiencing homelessness to access the affordable housing, health services, and employment necessary to exit homelessness. The affordable housing crisis and the inability to afford housing is the primary cause of homelessness. Nationally, there’s a shortage of 7.3 million homes affordable and available to people with the lowest incomes. These are working families whose wages have not increased at the same rate that rent has increased. Without affordable options, 11.7 million renters pay more than half of their limited incomes on rent, leaving them with few resources to make ends meet. Any financial shock can cause these households to fall behind on rent and face eviction and, in the worst cases, homelessness.

Arresting people for being homeless will not solve homelessness! HOUSING will solve homelessness. UNDERSTANDING will solve homelessness. RENTER PROTECTIONS will solve homelessness. BREAKING STIGMAS will solve homelessness. UPDATED ZONING LAWS will solve homelessness. PROVIDING RESOURCES for all groups in need will solve homelessness. TACKLING SYSTEMIC ISSUES such as poverty, lack of affordable healthcare, mental health challenges, substance abuse disorders, and unemployment will solve homelessness. POLICY CHANGES at the local, state, and federal levels that prioritize homelessness prevention, affordable housing development, supportive services funding, and social safety nets will solve homelessness. Arresting and fining people is cruel and unusual punishment - and the Supreme Court must uphold protection against such punishment as granted in the 8th Amendment of the United States Constitution. This Monday, I will be in Washington, DC, outside of the Supreme Court, rallying against the criminalization of homelessness in light of the JohnsonVGrantsPass.org case. If you cannot join me in person, PLEASE SIGN OUR PETITION: https://lnkd.in/etzJZ2Ru Some other ways to help: > call/write/email your local elected officials to urge their support against the criminalization of homelessness, as well as increased funding for affordable housing and supportive services. > post on social media about the case! #HousingNotHandcuffs #JohnsonVGrantsPass > rethink what you know about the homeless, housing crisis, barriers to rehousing, lack of available resources, inaccurate and harmful stigmas, etc. > follow Homeless & Human on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, Pinterest, and coming soon to TikTok and YouTube > visit our website for more ways to help: homelessnhuman.org

🚨Decriminalising homelessness isn't just about changing laws; it's about rebuilding lives.🚨 With a staggering 27% increase in homelessness, it's alarming to witness the government's push for legislation that could criminalise those experiencing homelessness. We're amidst a homeless emergency, and such policies showcase a fundamental misunderstanding of the underlying causes of homelessness. Fines and imprisonment only exacerbate the issue; what's truly needed is a robust investment in support services for those without a roof over their heads. While it's good to see MPs campaigning to repeal outdated laws, mere decriminalisation isn't enough. We must ensure that individuals receive the support they need to break free from the cycle of homelessness. Long-term homelessness stems from a myriad of challenges – from trauma and mental health issues to navigating a flawed support system. We've witnessed firsthand the transformative power of tailored support through our Housing First service, offering hope and stability to those in need. With an impressive 86% of Housing First residents maintaining their tenancies, it's evident that compassionate support can change lives. While repealing outdated laws is a step in the right direction, policymakers must also invest in initiatives like Housing First to create lasting change. Let's come together to ensure that everyone has a place to call home and a chance at a brighter future. Read the latest blog from SCT CEO, Tony Chasteauneuf, here: https://lnkd.in/dFB9u5hU #EndHomelessness #PositiveChange #HousingFirst #DecriminaliseHomeless

The Supreme Court's decision to uphold Grants Pass, Oregon's ban on homeless residents sleeping outdoors is deeply concerning and fails to address the root causes of homelessness with compassion and humanity. By endorsing such ordinances, the Court legitimizes policies that criminalize poverty and punish individuals for simply trying to survive. Justice Gorsuch's assertion that these laws do not target homeless people but rather the act of camping outdoors overlooks the stark reality faced by homeless individuals who often have no alternative but to sleep in public spaces. This decision ignores the fact that sleep is a basic human necessity, not a privilege reserved for those who can afford housing. Justice Sotomayor's dissent rightfully points out that such laws create a harmful cycle of instability and further marginalization. Criminalizing homelessness exacerbates the challenges faced by vulnerable populations, pushing them deeper into poverty and making it even harder for them to access essential services like employment, healthcare, and housing. This decision undermines efforts in states like California, where local governments have struggled to balance the need for public safety with compassion for those experiencing homelessness. It sets a dangerous precedent that could embolden other cities to implement similar punitive measures rather than investing in long-term solutions such as affordable housing, supportive services, and mental health care. As a society, we should prioritize policies that uphold human dignity and provide real support to individuals experiencing homelessness. This means challenging laws that criminalize homelessness and advocating for comprehensive, compassionate approaches that address the systemic issues driving homelessness in our communities. https://lnkd.in/eXhJ23Wq

The Supreme Court missed the point: Incarceration and shame—is not—the answer to addressing homelessness. I must admit that I had to read the Supreme Court’s decision in Grants Pass v. Johnson (https://lnkd.in/gu56UtYk) twice to see how far the majority had to go to justify a decision that essentially allows governments to criminalize an individual for experiencing homelessness. The majority’s decision represents yet another pathway for criminalizing individuals who are already struggling—just to be unable to afford basic housing. You would think as a society we would learn that criminalization of social issues such as homelessness, poverty, mental health, or substance use disorders does not work. Homelessness is an immense challenge to any city and resources should be directed to solving the issue of housing shortages. This ruling only provides for a means of punishing and disgracing people because of their status—in this case homelessness. According to the 2023 Annual Assessment Report to Congress by the Department of Housing and Urban Development--On any given night, over 600,000 individuals experience homelessness in America—of which approximately 40% are unable to access any shelter option. If we begin to criminalize them because of their status, are we going to use funding to build more prisons? Or just maybe, can we build more housing. The majority of the Supreme Court has ignored precedence, policy, and only plain old common sense to uphold a law that denies the basic human right that all people deserve to live dignified lives. It created another pathway to harm individuals who are already struggling. We as a society must be better than this. A Safe Haven will always be committed to finding solutions to the root causes of poverty, homelessness, mental health, or substance use issues. We will continue to advocate for humane solutions that build and strengthen our communities and preserve the dignity of each individual. We recognize the potential of each individual and will support programs and policies that are restorative—and not punitive. We can find better solutions by working together. You can visit us at www.ASAFEHAVEN.org to find out more about our programs and commitment to ending homelessness. hashtag #Homelessness hashtag #Housing hashtag #AffordableHousing Johnson v. Grants Passjohnsonvgrantspass.com

In the aftermath of the Supreme Court's decision allowing cities to criminalize homelessness, California Governor Gavin Newsom ordered state officials to clear encampments across the state. While this was the most significant action taken after the Supreme Court's decision, Newsom is far from the only elected leader to defer to penalization in response to this crisis. It's understandable to feel frustrated and concerned. None of us should grow accustomed to our neighbors living unsheltered. But criminalizing homelessness only makes the problem worse in the long term by increasing barriers to stable housing, employment, and access to services. This is especially true for young people, who are too often pushed into the shadows because of their social and economic realities. The good news is, an alternative approach – one centered on coordination and prevention – isn't just possible, it's already working. Between 2016 and 2022, Washington state saw the number of youth and young adults experiencing homelessness fall by 40 percent. That translates into 10,000 fewer young people experiencing homelessness in our state. That progress came not from penalizing those living unsheltered, but from coordination with schools, state agencies, organizations, and youth themselves to address the root causes, not the symptoms of this crisis. Leaders and community members alike have a choice in how they will respond to the Supreme Court's decision and the ongoing challenge of homelessness. Let's choose compassion and commit to evidence-based solutions that will ensure everyone has a safe place to call home. https://lnkd.in/gSV3sQKX

Homelessness is a big issue affecting hundreds of thousands of people across the UK and, in recent times, the numbers have only been increasing in 2024. Our Chief Executive, Donna Cezair, shares her views on homelessness and rough sleeping. #worthinghomes #homelessnessuk #insidehousing #ukhousing #roughsleeping #housingcrisis https://lnkd.in/eikywN4G

"Sleep is a biological necessity, not a crime." Justice Sotomayor Earlier this year a US Supreme Court decision (City of Grants Pass v Johnson) upheld local laws in Oregon that prohibit sleeping on public sidewalks and camping on public property. The above line is from a dissenting judgment of Justice Sotomayor who clearly understood that these laws have a very specific impact on people experiencing homelessness (calling the laws 'unconscionable and unconstitutional'). I'm in San Francisco for a couple of days before heading to Toronto for the International Access to Justice Forum. A couple of meetings have fallen through and I'm trying to avoid getting pulled into the day to day, given I'm in a different city, different country. I've been struck since getting here by the scale and devastation of homelessness. I've heard about how local homelessness encampments have been broken up (notably in Oakland). At the same time, as I walk down Market Street and into the Tenderloin district it's clear that the court cannot just 'magic away' homelessness. There are so many people living on the street and life goes on as everyone threads their way through this suffering. I wonder how much this seems depressingly 'normal' to the residents, perhaps as our (albeit different in scale) homelessness seems to us in Melbourne. It's a reminder that the law is a blunt solution, or no solution at all in this case. This shift in direction will enable homelessness to be policed more aggressively but it does not solve the homelessness. Now what? 

Earlier this week, I appeared on KUSI to discuss San Diego homelessness solutions. To help the unhoused population, I think it is important to offer individualized treatment, so that we can "meet people where they are." I also think we should provide a full continuum of care to those whom are receiving treatment and support. We should make sure the right providers are in place, and that we are paying attention to the right metrics. You can watch the entire segment here: https://bit.ly/4crYm2Y

Look, I’m not going to pretend I understand the full extent of the homelessness crisis in Ontario. It’s complex, multifaceted, and deeply entrenched in systemic issues. But asking Premier Doug Ford to invoke the notwithstanding clause to forcibly clear homeless encampments and strip people of their Charter rights feels like the wrong answer to the wrong question. Encampments are far from ideal. Even here in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, we see the many challenges they pose — for surrounding residents, businesses, communities, and those living in them. But criminalizing poverty and homelessness does nothing to address the underlying causes. Where are the voluntary care options? The investments in housing, mental health support, and social services? Treating homelessness as a public nuisance rather than a #PublicHealth and social issue is not just shortsighted — it’s harmful.