First National Study of State Laws Criminalizing Homelessness Released Widespread Criminalization of Sheltering, Camping, and Other Means of Survival FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Sam Scarrow 215-264-3252 scarrow@voicesforciviljustice.org (December 1, 2021, Washington, D.C.) – The National Homelessness Law Center (Law Center) today released the first national study on state laws criminalizing homelessness. Housing Not Handcuffs 2021: State Law Supplement shows that states are increasingly targeting homeless people with criminal penalties and incarceration for such acts of survival as public sleeping, camping and asking for charity.  Key findings of this research include: Almost [...]

Department of Justice Opens Civil Rights Investigation into Phoenix Police Department   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Karianna Barr Director of Development & Communications 202-638-2535 kbarr@nlchp.org (August 18, 2021, Washington, D.C.) – On Thursday, August 5, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that it will investigate incidents of excessive use of force, unlawful seizure and destruction of personal property, and other civil rights abuses against people experiencing homelessness by the Phoenix, AZ police department.   According to local activists, this discrimination has taken place not only in the City of Phoenix, but also more broadly in Maricopa County, [...]

Unhoused Bill of Rights Introduced by Representative Cori Bush (MO-01) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Karianna Barr Director of Development & Communications 202-638-2535 kbarr@nlchp.org (July 29, 2021, Washington, D.C.) – Yesterday, U.S. Representative Cori Bush (MO-01) unveiled the Unhoused Bill of Rights, the “first federal resolution to declare unalienable rights for unhoused persons and provide solutions to permanently end the crisis by 2025.”  The National Homelessness Law Center (the Law Center) is grateful to have worked with Representative Bush to develop the Unhoused Bill of Rights and is proud to officially endorse the [...]

Housing is a Human Right Act of 2021 Introduced in U.S. House of Representatives FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Karianna Barr Director of Development & Communications 202-638-2535 kbarr@nlchp.org (June, 14, 2021, Washington, D.C.) – On June 8, U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) and Grace Meng (NY-06), introduced the Housing is a Human Right Act of 2021, a bill to “address and end root causes of homelessness; transition communities towards providing housing for all; and ensure full democratic participation of persons experiencing homelessness.” The National Homeless Law Center is proud to have [...]