What Communities Need to Know About the Criminalization of Homelessness

All over the country, an organized effort is seeking to criminalize homelessness while attacking best practices like Housing First. Several states have already enacted bills along these lines, including Texas, Tennessee, and Missouri. Others managed to fend off bad legislation last year, but will face new proposals in the 2023 legislative session.

This page contains background, resources, and tools created by the Alliance and its partners in the National Coalition for Housing Justice, to ensure that every community understands this harmful trend. As future developments take shape this page will be updated.

Take a Stand Against the Criminalization of Homelessness

A ruthless effort to criminalize homelessness while attacking best practices like Housing First is gaining traction in state legislatures across the country. Several states have already enacted bills along these lines, including Texas, Tennessee, and Missouri. Other states like Arizona and Georgia managed to fend off bad legislation last year, but new proposals are being introduced this year.

Take Action by Endorsing the Alliance’s Statement of Principles

Track Legislation that Seeks to Criminalize Homelessness

Source: National Homelessness Law Center

Read “THE WRONG APPROACH TO HOMELESSNESS”

Source: National Low Income Housing Coalition

Criminalization Video Series

VIDEO: Why Lawmakers Get It Wrong When They Criminalize Homelessness