Karol Denniston’s Post

"A strong body of evidence shows that when people are housed stably, they commit fewer survival crimes like theft, robbery, trespassing, loitering, and prostitution. Increasing access to rental housing in low-income neighborhoods has also been found to significantly reduce violent crime, and providing permanent housing subsidies is correlated with reduced rates of intimate partner violence." Check out this insightful piece from The Brookings Institution on creating safe places and safe sleeping for people experiencing homelessness. In light of the recent Grants Pass decision, the article highlights the importance of cost-effective and humane solutions to address homelessness without resorting to criminalization. https://hubs.la/Q02HR0cR0

🚨 A small Oregon town’s homeless crisis is front and center in a landmark Supreme Court case. The ruling, set for April 22, could reshape how cities across the U.S. handle homelessness. This isn’t just a legal debate—it’s about protecting the constitutional rights of those without shelter. Pathways to Housing PA and 36 other organizations have signed onto an amicus brief filed by CSH, the Source for Housing Solutions, supporting the Ninth Circuit's decision to uphold the U.S. Constitution by prohibiting communities from fining or arresting people for merely sleeping outside when they have no access to shelter. The decision will have ripple effects nationwide, impacting thousands who struggle with homelessness. Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/eunfNesp

Great to see this piece finally published, by my former director Dennis Shea and Senior Policy Analyst at the Bipartisan Policy Center Francis G. Torres. Housing First works - but we also need the nation to increase the supply of affordable homes, policymakers to provide adequate support for federal homelessness assistance programs, and Congress to take a fresh look at those programs and update them as necessary. #housingfirst #endhomelessness https://lnkd.in/eYiTiUPc

The article discusses Governor Gavin Newsom's directive to California state officials to begin dismantling thousands of homeless encampments in response to a recent Supreme Court ruling that gave governments greater authority to remove homeless people from the streets. The directive is considered the nation's most sweeping response to this ruling. The homeless crisis in California has been a significant issue, with an estimated 180,000 homeless individuals in the state, most of whom are unsheltered. Governor Newsom's executive order aims to address this crisis with urgency and dignity, although it has received mixed reactions from local leaders and advocates for the homeless. The Supreme Court decision in June upheld an Oregon city's ban on homeless residents sleeping outdoors, leading to increased pressure on cities to address homelessness. Governor Newsom's administration has allocated billions of dollars to address homelessness and has emphasized the importance of providing housing and services to homeless individuals. While some local Democratic leaders have expressed concerns about potential inhumane measures to address homelessness, others have welcomed the ruling and are taking steps to address encampments in their jurisdictions. Although research suggests that simply clearing encampments may have limited long-term effects on reducing homelessness, it can be a powerful inducement for homeless to accept shelter and services. Clearing encampments also provides temporary relief to the neighborhood and prevent the decline of particulars streets. Governor Newsom's directive extends to other state agencies, such as California State Parks and the Department of Fish and Wildlife, instructing them to adopt similar approaches to addressing encampments. The state will provide advance notice to homeless campers before clearing encampments and work with local service providers to connect individuals with services and housing. Overall, Governor Newsom's executive order reflects his administration's efforts to address the homelessness crisis in California, although the response has generated debate and varying reactions among local leaders and advocates. https://lnkd.in/gid7pXaz

A very important read about the false promises of laws that would criminalize homelessness. In practice, these laws aren't reducing homelessness at all. In fact, they're creating chaos and making the work to rehouse people even harder. The reason is simple: because they are written by people who don't understand the issue at all, but do understand the political advantages of demonizing vulnerable populations. https://lnkd.in/ea2UCe2V

Helping those who have fallen between the cracks: is this not the high road? Beefing the police force to explicitly clamp down on a generation segment that is "lost" amounts to a step that is criminalization of the homeless? A short term knee jerk response by politicians to pacify the comfortable voter, yet long term, the article below advocates it is an expensive outcome. By the way, all those new police on staff draw very large pay, are union entitled, have large public service pensions. Overstaffing police could create a long term cost/tax burden problem (politician and taxpayer accountabilities become inflexible costs) even as they "solve" the short term problem by keeping the homeless on a leash. Life is bigger than that? We should have compassion on those who have lost their way, in my view, as a priority above excessive "law and order", and aim better for a balance that takes the wasted social potential of the homeless and gives them a second chance.

The supreme court heard arguments (Grants Pass V. Johnson) this week regarding a cities authority to regulate homelessness and sleeping in public. This is a ruling that is going to directly affect the City of Boise and their attempts to regulate homeless encampments in the city. Homelessness is a continued issue that we as a community have to work to try to better. It will be interesting to see how the supreme court rules and how that hampers or allows cities to expand on an authority to try to regulate homelessness in the community. https://lnkd.in/g6ZfXSfh #propertymanagement #business #boiserealestate #idahorealestate #idahorealtor #idahohomes #boiserealestate #boiserentals #narpm #idaholegislature #Idaholaw #landlordtenantlaws

Criminalizing homelessness is not a solution to the housing crisis, nor does it build public safety. A study of nearly 70,000 cases found that prosecuting people for low-level crimes like public sleeping makes cities more dangerous and leads to more violent crime. But this month, the Supreme Court could decide if local governments can criminalize sleeping in public spaces. Lower courts have already ruled that doing so is illegal and the Supreme Court should reiterate that fact. https://lnkd.in/e9M2sWMq

The Court's ruling does not criminalize homelessness; the position upheld by the Court provides clarity on what our expectations should be relative to public spaces meant to be shared by all. The same rights and expectations of ownership associated with private property are not imbued upon individuals who adopt public land for personal use. While the decision has the potential to help us better manage public spaces and ensure they remain clean, safe, and welcoming for everyone, it also underscores the need for us to make a greater public investment in creating affordable housing options and connecting at-risk individuals with a broad range of healthcare and supportive services. We can and need to focus on both. https://lnkd.in/epcWt28p

Today SCOTUS is hearing oral arguments in a pivotal case for the rights of unhoused people called City of Grants Pass v. Johnson. In this case, members of the high court may decide whether so-called "camping bans" violate the constitutional rights of our unhoused neighbors. We know that between 10%-25% of unhoused people have pets and that criminalizing homelessness has a devastating impact on people, their pets, and the human-animal bond that we believe deserves our protection. So many of our partner organizations have shared stories of the heartbreak they witness when unhoused people are forced to give up a pet they love. That's why HASS stands with National Alliance to End Homelessness, National Low Income Housing Coalition and National Homeless Law Center in support of Homes Not Handcuffs and call to all policymakers to prioritize provision of services and humane responses to the crisis of homelessness in our country.  Read more about the case below. https://lnkd.in/eQ_5p7ja