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. While people take to the streets [...]

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, in a state [...]

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. Represented by the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty (“Law Center”), Disability Rights [...]

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.” The CDC’s guidance for unsheltered populations already emphasizes that “Unless individual housing units are available, do [...]

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. The National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty (The Law Center) is grateful that the final Stimulus bill includes $4 billion in funding and protections for [...]

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.” The National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty (the Law Center) and our Housing Not Handcuffs Campaign members agree with the outlined recommendations and are grateful [...]