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National Homelessness Law Center @homelesslaw.bsky.social · 1d

NEW REPORT: The Criminalization of Homelessness & Mental Health Conditions in the US, published in collaboration with the UMiami Law Human Rights Clinic, examines how forced institutionalization is increasingly used to criminalize unhoused individuals with mental health conditions.

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Report: Criminalization of Homelessness and Mental Health in the US

This report examines the current policies which enable the criminalization of homelessness and mental health, violations of international human rights standards, and potential evidence-based alternatives to provide mental health support to unhoused individuals.

homelesslaw.org

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National Homelessness Law Center @homelesslaw.bsky.social · 6d

Jails and tickets won't end homelessness.
It ends with housing.
It ends with supportive services.
It ends with outreach.

That’s what SB 634 is about. #SB634 @CAGovernor @CalMatters
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Opinion |Cities that ban or criminalize homeless services worsen California’s crisis

A bill on the governor’s desk would stop cities from chasing away supportive services and workers who help unhoused people survive the streets.

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National Homelessness Law Center @homelesslaw.bsky.social · 9d

We're hiring! Our comms team is looking for a Communications & Media Relations Associate committed to building power & changing the narrative about homelessness to ensure everyone has a safe place to live.

For instructions to apply, view the full listing: homelesslaw.org/about/career...

Careers & Internships - National Homelessness Law Center

The Law Center seeks diverse, well-qualified candidates with a passion for social justice. In addition to permanent staff positions, the Law Center hosts sponsor-paid and unpaid fellowships, internshi...

homelesslaw.org

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National Homelessness Law Center @homelesslaw.bsky.social · 21d

We are horrified by the violent rhetoric and violence targeting homeless people seen in the past week. Still, it is not new. For years, politicians and the media have demonized and vilified homeless people. Their actions have devastating and fatal consequences.

Our statement: buff.ly/c8CZLyw

National Homelessness Law Center Condemns Violence and Violent Rhetoric Targeting Homeless People - National Homelessness Law Center

National Homelessness Law Center Condemns Violence and Violent Rhetoric Targeting Homeless People (WASHINGTON, D.C - September 18th, 2025) Everybody needs a safe place to live. But instead of…

homelesslaw.org

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National Homelessness Law Center @homelesslaw.bsky.social · Sep 9

ACTION ALERT: Tomorrow (9/10), Congress will discuss a bill that would put people in jail or fine them $500 for sleeping outside in DC.

Contact your reps today via bit.ly/STOPHB5163

In DC and across the country, we need #HousingNotHandcuffs #FreeDC

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National Homelessness Law Center @homelesslaw.bsky.social · Sep 3

“Some people experiencing homelessness have mental illness. That’s not the cause of homelessness. The cause of homelessness is that housing is too expensive. Institutionalizing folks doesn’t treat the root cause of the problem,” said Jesse Rabinowitz of the Law Center. buff.ly/KK4ufd2

The trouble with Trump’s homelessness plan

The Marshall Project reports Trump’s plan to involuntarily commit more homeless people faces criticism for ignoring root causes, like housing affordability.

www.indexjournal.com

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National Homelessness Law Center @homelesslaw.bsky.social · Sep 2

Trump says Chicago is next in line for his fascist takeover, however: "The city believes firmly that being unhoused is not a crime, so we will not be assisting with any sort of arrest or enforcement toward the unhoused community..." said CHO Sendy Soto. buff.ly/0PEVq6Y

Chicago on guard for sweeps of homeless encampments

The White House says it has cleared dozens of homeless encampments in D.C. Housing advocates say they want to be prepared if National Guard troops come to Chicago.

www.wbez.org

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National Homelessness Law Center @homelesslaw.bsky.social · Aug 29

Clearing encampments makes it harder for people to get into housing. People’s IDs that they need to get into housing are destroyed, people’s medications are thrown away, people’s bikes that they need to get to work are often trashed.

Trump issued an order targeting homeless people. In D.C., he’s giving it a test run.

Officials have already cleared dozens of homeless encampments in the District of Columbia in recent days as President Donald Trump’s federal takeover of the nation’s capital for a “crime emergency”

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National Homelessness Law Center @homelesslaw.bsky.social · Aug 28

"Once people are homeless, Trump has no plan to address it other than literally rounding people up and putting them in detention camps,” said Jesse Rabinowitz of the Law Center.

National Guard Plan to Address Homelessness Draws Criticism as Experts Cite Housing Solutions - Davis Vanguard

President Donald Trump has announced the National Guard will assume control of the Washington, D.C., police department for 30 days, and has suggested the effort could expand to other cities, while…

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National Homelessness Law Center @homelesslaw.bsky.social · Aug 27

"Why can Trump always find money for things he wants to, like half a million dollars for an ICE music video or to deploy federal agents to occupy DC, but not to invest in the housing and support that people really need?" asked Jesse Rabinowitz of the Law Center.

ICE goes high-profile in DC as it seeks recruits amid mass expansion

ICE typically operates with a much lower profile. Agents have been criticized for operating in plainclothes as they detain people in unmarked vehicles.

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National Homelessness Law Center @homelesslaw.bsky.social · Aug 26

"The crowd’s anger grows, and I notice something that is becoming a trend. Trump’s troops retreat when citizens rise up." As Trump's authoritarian takeover of DC continues, residents of the district aren't making it easy for the occupying troops.

Fake Armies of the Night: Trump Unleashes Show and Awe on Washington

Donald Trump’s D.C. takeover is the usual Trumpian blend of idiocy and cruelty. Read our dispatch from the police state in the nation’s capital.

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National Homelessness Law Center @homelesslaw.bsky.social · Aug 25

Trump is spending over $1 MILLION per day to have the National Guard harass homeless people. In contrast, providing housing to every homeless person in DC would cost ~ $255k.

The solution to homelessness is housing and supports, not handcuffs and jails. buff.ly/pMYtwCE

Trump's DC Occupation Costs 4 Times More Than It Would Take to House City's Entire Homeless Population | Common Dreams

Trump's deployment of the National Guard to Washington, DC costs more than 4 times as much as it would cost to simply house every homeless person in the city, according to researcher Hanna Homestead.

www.commondreams.org

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National Homelessness Law Center @homelesslaw.bsky.social · Aug 21

"We have to redefine what safety means. We know that safe communities are communities where people have their needs met. And those needs include housing and support."

Hear Jesse Rabinowitz of the Law Center discuss Trump's authoritarian takeover of DC on NPR's Code Switch : buff.ly/XxGEiTN

How Trump's D.C. takeover criminalizes homelessness : Code Switch

On August 11, President Trump announced his intention to "rescue" the nation's capital. A central feature of his plan involved using federal officials to remove people experiencing homelessness from…

www.npr.org

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National Homelessness Law Center @homelesslaw.bsky.social · Aug 20

Taxpayers are spending over $400,000 a day for Trump to use the DC National Guard for photo ops. Why can they find money for that but not for housing and support? $240k can solve homelessness for a year for 9 people. www.commondreams.org/news/trump-h...

As Trump Wages War on the Homeless, His Budget Will Kill a Policy That Helped Them Find Housing | Common Dreams

As Trump wages war on homeless people in the streets, his proposed budget eliminates a program that helps them find permanent housing. The National Alliance to End Homelessness estimates the change…

www.commondreams.org

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National Homelessness Law Center @homelesslaw.bsky.social · Aug 15

The past 24 hours in DC have been chaos. FBI, Secret Service, DHS, & DC police are roaming the district, forcibly displacing homeless residents & throwing away their belongings. This is inhumane, wastes taxpayer dollars, and doesn't solve homelessness. housingnothandcuffs.org/2025/08/15/h...

Homeless residents forcibly displaced and property destroyed as Trump increases control of D.C.

Last night, police from the FBI, Secret Service, Department of Homeland Security and the Metropolitan Police Department roamed D.C., particularly in areas near the White House where homeless people li...

housingnothandcuffs.org

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National Homelessness Law Center @homelesslaw.bsky.social · Aug 14

UPDATE: Unlawful arrests and forced displacement of homeless D.C. residents expected to begin this morning at 10 AM with federal and local police throwing away tents at 62 encampments; arrests are expected to begin at nightfall to avoid media attention.https://buff.ly/gRAsxWS

Unlawful arrests and forced displacement of homeless D.C. residents expected today

Advocates in D.C. expect the Trump administration to begin the illegal and inhumane jailing and institutionalization of homeless Washingtonians this morning at 10 A.M. The White House stated in…

housingnothandcuffs.org

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Reposted by National Homelessness Law Center

Mari Castaldi @maricastaldi.bsky.social · Aug 13

We also see a lot of states rejecting the failed policy of ticketing and arresting unhoused people. Analysis of state-level bills criminalizing homelessness this past year by @homeless-law.bsky.social found that nearly 80% were voted down or tabled. housingnothandcuffs.org/wp-content/u...

housingnothandcuffs.org

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National Homelessness Law Center @homelesslaw.bsky.social · Aug 13

ALERT: The Trump admin has started evicting homeless encampments with no notice to residents or providers, following his federal takeover of D.C.

Get the latest updates from @streetsensedc: buff.ly/ZGJDQUv

Encampment clearings begin after Trump orders takeover of MPD

President Donald Trump federalized D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department and directed law enforcement to “remove” homeless encampments.

streetsensemedia.org

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National Homelessness Law Center @homelesslaw.bsky.social · Aug 11

Trump began a federal takeover of DC today, testing the forced displacement of unhoused people.

Locking up people you don’t don’t want to see is textbook authoritarianism. When a fascist tells you who they are, believe them. @jesserbnwtz.bsky.social: housingnothandcuffs.org/2025/08/11/h...

Breaking: Trump begins federal takeover of DC, orders forced displacement of unhoused people

Just hours ago, Trump federalized the national guard and D.C. police and reiterated his plan to remove homeless people living in D.C. Click here to read our statement on the anti-homeless order and wa...

housingnothandcuffs.org

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National Homelessness Law Center @homelesslaw.bsky.social · Aug 6

Let's be clear: Trump's executive order on homelessness and mental health will hurt unhoused Black Americans first and worst. The EO makes it easier for law enforcement to forcibly institutionalize homeless people, which will lead to even more racial profiling and discrimination.

Trump's executive order on homelessness, which disproportionately impacts Black Americans, slammed as 'cruel and inhumane'

"People need homes, not handcuffs; health care, not institutionalization; and above all, compassion, not criminality," said Maxine Waters.

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National Homelessness Law Center @homelesslaw.bsky.social · Aug 5

"A new Trump order calls for arresting and ticketing unhoused people. My state tried that — and homelessness just got worse." #HousingNotHandcuffs

Read more from Shameka Parrish-Wright of VOCAL-KY:

We Can’t Arrest Our Way Out of Homelessness - OtherWords

A new Trump order calls for arresting and ticketing unhoused people. My state tried that — and homelessness just got worse.

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Reposted by National Homelessness Law Center

Interrupting Criminalization @interruptcrim.bsky.social · Jul 29

"The safest communities are those with the most housing and resources, not those that make it a crime to be poor or sick."

Learn more: Read the @homeless-law.bsky.social's statement and join their #HousingNotHandcuffs campaign: housingnothandcuffs.org/join/

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National Homelessness Law Center @homelesslaw.bsky.social · Jul 28

Free version of the article: buff.ly/fl4m3jt

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National Homelessness Law Center @homelesslaw.bsky.social · Jul 28

🚨Trump is pushing states to forcibly institutionalize people for experiencing homelessness.

“The safest communities are those with the most housing and resources, not those that make it a crime to be poor or sick," @jesserbnwtz.bsky.social
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www.washingtonpost.com

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National Homelessness Law Center @homelesslaw.bsky.social · Jul 25

The city of Grants Pass may have won their Supreme Court case, but it hasn't decreased homelessness.

"Criminalizing homelessness hasn’t worked for the past 40 years, since these laws have started building up, and it never will.” - Eric Tars of the Law Center.

Grants Pass won legal fight on camps — but continues to lose control of its homelessness crisis

It’s been one year since the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Grants Pass’ ban against homeless people camping in public. But in this Southern Oregon city, local officials still can’t clear all its homeless…

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