Category Archives: Criminalization

11 homeless individuals sued Eureka to stop eviction — and won

Communities across the country are struggling with policy solutions to address homeless encampments, and San Francisco is no exception. With a wildly unaffordable housing market, and thousands of people living unsheltered in the city’s public places, San Francisco lawmakers are … Continue reading

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The 2015 National Forum on the Human Right to Housing

Wednesday, June 24 and Thursday, June 25 marked the Law Center’s two-day National Forum on the Human Right to Housing, hosted by the Microsoft Innovation & Policy Center in Washington, D.C. The event gathered organizers, attorneys and legal service providers, … Continue reading

Posted in Children & Youth, Civil Rights, Criminalization, Domestic Violence, Housing, Human Rights, Race, Veterans | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Police Violence Against Homeless, Poor Persons, Housing & Homelessness Addressed At Global Review of U.S. Human Rights Record

On Monday, May 11, the U.N. Human Rights Council reviewed the U.S. for compliance with its human rights obligations as part of the U.S.’s second Universal Periodic Review raising concerns about the criminalization of homelessness and poverty as well as … Continue reading

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Housing & Homelessness Addressed At Global Review of U.S. Human Rights Record

On Monday, May 11, the U.N. Human Rights Council reviewed the U.S. for compliance with its human rights obligations as part of the U.S.’s second Universal Periodic Review. Thanks to advocacy by the Law Center and others, several countries raised … Continue reading

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Food-Sharing Ordinance in Dallas Revised

On Wednesday, December 10, the Law Center formally settled our long-standing litigation with the city of Dallas, over the city’s ordinance imposing unreasonable burdens on religious and other nonprofit organizations seeking to share food with homeless persons in public spaces.  … Continue reading

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No Safe Place: The Criminalization of Homelessness in U.S. Cities

Imagine living in a place where it is illegal to sleep, sit, lie down, or share food outdoors. Imagine that this is a place where you are often ignored or rejected by your fellow townspeople, police officers, and local elected … Continue reading

Posted in Civil Rights, Criminalization | 3 Comments

Countering Criminalization: Constitutional Challenges Under the Fourteenth Amendment

This is the part six of our Countering Criminalization blog series, examining Constitutional Challenges and Constructive Alternatives to the criminalization of homelessness. The Fourteenth Amendment guarantees all Americans due process and equal protection of the laws. States and cities cannot … Continue reading

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Countering Criminalization: Constitutional Challenges Under the Eighth Amendment

This is the part five of our Countering Criminalization blog series, examining Constitutional Challenges and Constructive Alternatives to the criminalization of homelessness. With national and local shortages of affordable housing and shelter beds, people experiencing homelessness are frequently left with … Continue reading

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Countering Criminalization: Constitutional Challenges Under the Fourth Amendment

This is the part four of our Countering Criminalization blog series, examining Constitutional Challenges and Constructive Alternatives to the criminalization of homelessness. One of the basic rights that Americans enjoy every day is security against unreasonable searches and seizures. We … Continue reading

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Countering Criminalization: Constitutional Challenges Under the First Amendment – Free Exercise of Religion

This is part three of our Countering Criminalization blog series, examining Constitutional Challenges and Constructive Alternatives to the criminalization of homelessness. Caring for people in need is a core element of many people’s religious beliefs. Some religious organizations may express this … Continue reading

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