Washington, DC, December 16, 2019 – This morning, the U.S. Supreme Court denied a petition by the city of Boise to review the case Martin v. Boise (formerly Bell v. Boise). This leaves in place earlier rulings by the 9th Circuit that homeless persons cannot be punished for sleeping outside on public property in the absence of adequate alternatives. People experiencing unsheltered homelessness—at least in the 9th Circuit—can sleep more safely without facing criminal punishment for simply trying to survive on the streets.

National Homelessness and Housing Organizations Respond to USICH Report 10 national organizations, representing advocates and leaders in national efforts to end homelessness, released the following statement: Today, the Trump administration’s United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) released a document that purports to lay out a plan to address homelessness.  This is a plan in name only. It does not contain the interventions proven to reduce and end homelessness, which have been embraced by administrations on both sides of the aisle. The vast majority of what has been proposed cannot be implemented by the agency.

Court Declares Florida Statutes Unconstitutional FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: National Homelessness Law Center Karianna Barr, Director of Development & Communications 202-638-2535 ext. 118  kbarr@homelesslaw.org Southern Legal Counsel Nancy Kinnally, Media Relations Consultant (407) 375-2264 nancy@therelatablegroup.com U.S. District Court declares Statutes prohibiting unpermitted charitable solicitation on Florida roadways unconstitutional under the First Amendment and issues permanent injunction (October 15, 2020, Jacksonville, FL) – In a major First Amendment victory, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida has declared Florida Statutes 316.2045 and 337.406

Founder and Executive Director Maria Foscarinis Stepping Down from the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:  Shaina Amaya Tel: 202-827-2165 Email: samaya@leaderfit.org (August 3, 2020, Washington, D.C.) – The National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty (the Law Center) announced today that Founder and Executive Director Maria Foscarinis is stepping down later this year after leading the organization for 31 years. Under Maria’s leadership, the Law Center recently completed a strategic rebranding process and is becoming the National Homelessness Law Center.

Can’t Stay Home, Can’t Keep Curfew: People Experiencing Homelessness Caught in Pandemic, Curfews, Violence National Advocates Renew Call for Housing Safety FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Crys Letona Communications Associate cletona@homelesslaw.org (June 2, 2020, Washington, D.C.) – People experiencing homelessness in the United States—already at heightened risk and with fewer resources due to the pandemic—now face even greater challenges as a result of both the violence sweeping many city streets and the curfews many are imposing in an effort to control.

California Introduces First-in-the-Nation Amendment to Recognize Housing as a Human Right Poll Shows Majority of Californians Support FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Crys Letona Communications Associate cletona@homelesslaw.org (May 13, 2020, Sacramento, CA) – May 11, California became the first state in the country to officially propose amending their constitution to recognize the human right to housing. President Franklin Roosevelt first proposed recognizing housing in his “Second Bill of Rights” speech as part of addressing the Great Depression, and now, on the brink of a COVID-induced economic crisis

Homeless Plaintiffs Seek Emergency Federal Court Order to Stop Towing and Impoundment of Vehicle Homes during COVID-19 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Crys Letona cletona@homelesslaw.org (May 1, 2020, Washington, D.C.) – People living in vehicles in the City of San Diego—many with disabilities that increase the risk of serious illness or death from COVID-19—seek an emergency court order preventing the City from criminalizing living in vehicles and to stop towing and impoundment of vehicle homes during the COVID-19 outbreak.

CDC’s Prescription: Individual Housing for People Experiencing Homelessness During COVID-19 and Beyond FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Crys Letona cletona@homelesslaw.org (April 23, 2020, Washington, D.C.) – This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated their official guidance on COVID-19 to include sheltered homeless populations, stating, “Depending on resources and staff availability, non-group housing options (such as hotels/motels) that have individual rooms should be considered for the overflow, quarantine, and protective housing sites.”

CARES Act Provides Some COVID-19 Protections For Homeless Populations, But There Is More To Do FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Crys Letona 202-638-2535 x 109 cletona@homelesslaw.org (March 27, 2020, Washington, D.C.) – Today, the House of Representatives passed the CARES Act, ensuring—amongst other provisions—that our unhoused neighbors are protected and that those at risk of becoming homeless are safe.

CDC: Housing, Not Handcuffs Is the Way to Stop COVID-19 Amongst Homeless Populations Advocates Hail First Step, Call for More Help FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Crys Letona 202-638-2535 x 109 cletona@homelesslaw.org (March 23, 2020, Washington, D.C.) – Late Sunday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued official guidance stating, “Unless individual housing units are available, do not clear encampments during community spread of COVID-19.”

Representatives Introduce Housing is a Human Right Act of 2020 Right to Housing Needed More than Ever with COVID-19 Threats, Say Advocates FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Crys Letona 202-638-2535 x 109 cletona@homelesslaw.org (March 19, 2020, Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) introduced the Housing is a Human Right Act of 2020. The bill, co-sponsored by Representative Grace Meng (NY-06), aims to “address and end root causes of homelessness; transition communities towards providing housing for all; and ensure full democratic participation of persons experiencing homelessness.”

Housing is the Next Step to Mitigating Coronavirus FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Crys Letona Communications Associate 202-638-2535 x 109 cletona@homelesslaw.org (March 11, 2020, Washington, D.C.) – Without proper resources, people experiencing homelessness can be exceptionally vulnerable to communicable diseases—including the current outbreak of coronavirus, COVID-19. The National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty anticipates this virus to be not only a public health crisis, but also to direct attention to the safety and the rights of people lacking adequate housing and healthcare.

Civil Rights Groups File Lawsuit Over Alabama’s Laws Criminalizing Panhandling City of Montgomery Issued over 400 Citations in Last 18 Months Enforcing Laws in Violation of First Amendment  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Karianna Barr/NLCHP/ kbarr@homelesslaw.org/ 202-638-2535 x118 Jen Fuson/SPLC/jen.fuson@splcenter.org / 202-834-6209 Rebecca Seung-Bickley /Alabama ACLU/rseungbickley@aclualabama.org/334-420-1743 Montgomery, Ala.— Alabama’s panhandling laws violate the First Amendment’s protection of freedom of speech, according to a lawsuit filed today seeking to immediately stop the city of Montgomery and Alabama from enforcing two state statutes prohibiting panhandling.