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Date: April 29, 2024 Mon
Time: 10:29 pm
Time: 10:29 pm
Results for homeless persons (u.s.)
2 results foundAuthor: National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty Title: Criminalizing Crisis: The Criminalization of Homelessness in U.S. Cities Summary: Since the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty (the Law Center) and the National Coalition for the Homeless released their last report on the criminalization of homelessness, Homes Not Handcuffs, in July 2009, the housing and homelessness crisis in the United States has deepened significantly. In its 2010 survey of 27 large cities, the U.S. Conference of Mayors observed that 52 percent of cities have seen in increase in overall homelessness, while 58 percent have seen an increase in family homelessness. Further, across the surveyed cities, an average of 27 percent of homeless people were turned away from emergency shelter due to lack of space. Despite the fact that communities all over the country lack adequate affordable housing and shelter space, cities are continuing to penalize people forced to live on our streets and in public spaces. Criminalization measures often prohibit activities like as sleeping/camping, eating, sitting, and/or begging in public spaces and include criminal penalties for violations of these laws. Some cities have even enacted restrictions that punish groups and individuals for serving food to homeless people. Many of these measures appear to be designed to move homeless persons out of sight, or even out of a given city. Criminalizing Crisis, the Law Center’s tenth report on the criminalization of homelessness, provides an overview of the criminalization measures in place across the country, as well as guidance on how advocates can combat them and promote more constructive alternatives. The report summarizes the results of a national survey by the Law Center on the enforcement of criminalization measures across the country, as well as a survey of the particular laws in place in 234 cities and the changes in those laws since our 2009 report. Criminalizing Crisis reviews the costs and other impacts of criminalization and includes recommendations for policy change. The report concludes that criminalization measures do nothing to solve the problem of homelessness. Instead, they frequently perpetuate homelessness, place unnecessary burdens on our criminal justice system, and violate homeless individuals’ civil and human rights. The report’s comprehensive Advocacy Manual provides guidance and tools for advocates. Details: Washington, DC: National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, 2011. 208p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 6, 2012 at: http://www.nlchp.org/content/pubs/11.14.11%20criminalization%20report%20&%20advocacy%20manual,%20final1.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.nlchp.org/content/pubs/11.14.11%20criminalization%20report%20&%20advocacy%20manual,%20final1.pdf Shelf Number: 125485 Keywords: Homeless Persons (U.S.)HomelessnessHousingPoverty |
Author: National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty Title: Alone Without a Home: A State-by-State Review of Laws Affecting Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Summary: Each year, an estimated 1.6 million children and youth (ages 12-17) experience homelessness without a parent or guardian. These youth leave home for a variety of reasons, including severe family conflict, parental abuse or neglect, parental mental health issues, or substance abuse. Whether runaway or throwaway, once on the street, unaccompanied homeless youth face numerous legal barriers that often complicate their attempts to meet the basic necessities of life on their own and prevent them from reaching out for assistance to state agencies and service providers that could otherwise help them. Further complicating matters is that many of these laws vary considerably from state to state, creating misinterpretations by service providers and mistaken avoidance of services on the part of homeless youth who may fear being taken into state custody or assume they will be turned away. This report reviews the state of current law in 12 key issue areas that affect the lives and future prospects of unaccompanied homeless youth in all 50 U.S. states and 6 territories. The report offers an overview of the range of approaches taken by states and their relative prevalence, and reveals significant differences in many cases. The report also provides recommendations for policy change in each of the areas, with a view towards strengthening the supports available to unaccompanied youth. While many issues surrounding unaccompanied youth remain controversial, the aim of this report is to recommend steps that can protect their safety, development, health and dignity, and thus increase their prospects for positive future outcomes. Details: Washington, DC: National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, 2012. 251p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 24, 2012 at: http://www.nlchp.org/content/pubs/Alone%20Without%20a%20Home,%20FINAL1.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.nlchp.org/content/pubs/Alone%20Without%20a%20Home,%20FINAL1.pdf Shelf Number: 126783 Keywords: Homeless Persons (U.S.)HomelessnessPovertyRunaways |