Cities across the country are enacting more bans on living in vehicles, camping in public and panhandling, despite federal efforts to discourage such laws amid a shortage of affordable housing, a new report said.
Denver, which ordered about 150 homeless people living on sidewalks to clear out their belongings Tuesday, was among four cities criticized for policies criminalizing homelessness in a report by the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, an advocacy group aiming to prevent people from losing their homes.
The other cities listed in its “hall of shame” are in Hawaii, Texas and Washington state.
People in Denver chanted, “No handcuffs. Give us homes,” as they packed up their belongings when police arrived. As they piled shopping carts high, a jumble of items cluttered the area: a banana, a paperback copy of Shakespeare and a pair of construction boots.
Many cities with increasing home prices have been struggling with homelessness, including Denver and Honolulu, which were reprimanded for an anti-camping law and ban on sitting or lying on sidewalks, respectfully.
“These laws are unconstitutional and bad public policy,” Maria Foscarinis, the center’s executive director, said in a phone call with reporters. “Homelessness remains a national crisis across the country. It’s fueled by the growing lack of affordable housing and the shrinking safety net.”
The report, which was based on a review of policies enacted by 187 cities over a decade, said bans on living in vehicles increased by 143 percent. Those laws can be particularly devastating because they often lead to vehicle impoundment, and people can lose all of their belongings, disrupting their ability to work or attend school, Foscarinis said.
In Denver, authorities had given notice that homeless people had to move their things. While some packed up and left, others resisted, so the city gave them more time, said Julie Smith, a spokeswoman for the human services department. She said the city wants to help them go to shelters and get other services.
Bennie Henley, an Army veteran who moved to Denver two weeks ago from Kansas to get treatment at the Veterans Administration hospital, said he prefers sleeping on an advertising banner rolled out on the sidewalk rather than in a shelter. He showed a rash on his arm that he thinks came from bedbugs in a shelter.
“I don’t like being crowded up like that,” said Henley, sitting on a swivel office chair on the sidewalk and leaning on a cane.
The report said Denver forces thousands of people to dismantle camps despite a waiting list for subsidized housing.
City spokeswoman Amber Miller called the report’s findings inaccurate, saying the center relied on local advocacy groups with incorrect information. She said Denver’s priority is helping people find assistance.
“We have increased outreach workers and paired them with police patrols, expanded day and night shelter, created 250 units of permanent supportive housing and launched a day work program,” Miller said in a statement.
Honolulu was criticized for what the report called aggressive enforcement of its sit-lie ban. The group said the city has issued more than 16,000 warnings to people violating the ban since it was enacted in Waikiki in 2014.
But Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s spokesman Jesse Broder Van Dyke said the report fails to mention that since the sit-lie law took effect in September of 2014, officers have issued 21,630 warnings and made only 27 arrests after a public education and warning period.
He also said over the last two years Honolulu has helped house more than 1,000 people who were experiencing homelessness, including over 860 veterans.
The report also targeted Dallas and Puyallup, Washington. Dallas was criticized for issuing thousands of citations for sleeping in public, and Puyallup, for making it illegal to camp, panhandle or sit and lie down in parts of the city, despite lacking adequate space in an emergency shelter.
Officials from those two cities didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
The report called several such policies unconstitutional. The group said panhandling is protected by free-speech rights and preventing sleeping in public could be considered cruel and unusual punishment.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Isn’t it amazing that the CITIES in the United States where homlessness is highest are the LIBERAL cities — Let’s see – New York, Boston, Washington, DC., Los Angeles, Chicago, Denver, Miami, San Francisco, Honolulu, St. Louis, Detroit…….and on and on. It would be a good thing if since LIBERALS are so outraged over the election they could better spend their time helping the needy and or cleaning up the streets. How about Soros giving some of his billions to help the homless in LIBERAL USA.
I am so sick of this that it is just so disappointing that these LIBERALS are acting so un-American. They care nothing about anbody else except their cause.
And those TOTAL THUGS in Chicago — no outrage from any of the APPOINTED PEOPLE. Did any LIBERL say anything at all. NOPE – Nothing. Way worse than SHAMEFUL.
Dream on about LIBERALS helping the needy. I think Hell would freeze over first
Soros is one of the main culprits behind the chaos and suffering. The man is evil.
On the upside, Putin has an arrest warrant out for him …. Dead or Alive …. I hope someone will bring him in DEAD. Maybe then, the rest of the morons who have screwed up the world will slither back under their rocks, and people can go back to the days when we stood together and helped each other.
For the past umpteen years, the Media has gone out of its way to pit us against one another. They want the blacks to hate the whites and vise-versa. They thrive on helpless people. They (the bankers and dirty politicians and they puppet-masters) are raking in T/Billions creating havoc and debt and problems in need of solutions. And Soros is behind a great deal of this mess. I hope, sooner, rather than later, someone will bring Soros in to face Putin. I suspect it will be goodbye “Mr. Evil”!
Some of these are sanctuary cities, so that illegal immigrants are given benefits denied or delayed for these American homeless. Spend on American citizens, not illegal immigrants! Shame on them. As for Rahm Emmanuel (Chicago mayor) — he has some nerve defending his sanctuary city when his city has the highest homicide rate in all of USA! Blind idiot!!
These are the cities that cuddle and support the illegals but do nothing to help Americans who have fallen on hard times.Looks like a vote is more important then a life.
How stupid, a ban on living in your car. Do these cities, really feel people love living that way, and penalizing them. The people are suffering enough, leave them alone.
I notice the word “GIVE” in the homeless guy’s comment. We paid off a 30 year mortgage in 27 years on a modest two bedroom home. Yes, we were “given” a break on our taxes for the 27 years. Now I am being “given” $1,057.00 a month in SS income on which I live very conservatively. I paid SS taxes on my income for over 40 years. Sorry, can’t sympathize! Find a job, even if you have to move to another area or take a very low paying job. Just dig in and work.
It is sad these children who are destroying these cities are destroying their fellow Clinton lovers.These people 70% of which didn’t even vote.Where is the sense in that.Our country is upside down.Trump won fair and square,get over it.This is one loss that you don’t get a trophy for.I am appalled at the youth of America.Join the military and serve your country before you bitch about who is running it.I just don’t get the parents who coddled their children to the point of making them sissies.These people blocked the highway and caused an ambulance to be held up for 45 minutes and a father of a 4 year old little girl died.This is wrong and has to stop.They are very lucky I wasn’t driving,these young babies would have moved.
I’m for mandatory conscri[ption (draft) of youth when they reach 18. Two years of hard military discipline might give them some backbone and perspective of what really matters. I can see parents of these spoiled brats objecting to my suggestion. Horrors! Their poor babies will be raped and tortured by the military! Maybe they should also be conscripted, LOL Statistically, veterans who go to College after their stint make better and more disciplined students.
Amen!
That’s right! Crack down on the homeless Americans (especially those expendable Vets) and set up more Sanctuary cities!
Welcome to America … Home of the Brave & Land of the Freebies …
Amazing!
Surly with all of the money the federal government doles out to every other cause, they could fix up a few empty buildings to be found in every city in America and provide the basics for these homeless people and get them off of the streets. The government created this mess. They need to clean it up.
The government pyramid scam for the poor is collapsing. We need to get government out of our social issues other than to, in a very limited manner, support religious and civic organizations in providing food and shelter for America’s homeless. With a hand up needs to come taking responsibility for oneself. The homeless should be able to choose which hand up organization they want to rely on as well as accept the responsibility of which ever organization they choose to accept the educational and moral values provided by that organization. If Atheists oppose homeless needing to be preached to about God, the Atheist organizations need to step up and provide basic needs on their terms. We need to give the homeless a chance to get back on their feet, not continue to use them for their vote and then push them aside.
It is long overdue for the US to help the American citizens that are homeless. There are so many ways to help. Look around at all the empty government buildings,,,,,,,,,,,time to utilize them to help people out, allow their children to go to school, have an address and a phone number.for job applicants. But instead we have a democratic pesident that is too busy playing golf and/or traveling to give a dam. He doesn’t care about our vets or citizens, but he does care about all the illegals and refugees and that they keep receiving taxpayer money. I am so thrilled about the election. Things will change and cities will get cleaned up as well as the government swamp.
New America the land where illegals are given a free pass to come and remain here. While those already here are persecuted for having been here beforehand. Arrest those who sleep in their vehicles, take their vehicle away, then jail them for having gotten in the way priceless. All this while giving Muslims free passes to enter the country, set up house, receive food, jobs, etc. at the expense of the people already here in dire need of help. 21st century America, what a great place for those of us already here who speak American English, obey laws, pay taxes, etc. 🙁
Been reading the Horn reports (comments) section on numerous daily subjects and appreciate the overwhelming concern your respondents write,,and gives me the realization that many AMERICANS care about our Nation it’s future, the course were on, the GOD given Right to retain our Constitution,, and the RIGHT to protect our way of life and continue our lives of FREEDOM here in our Beautiful Nation (that so many have paid the ultimate sacrifice) to keep our way of life,and our Nation. Thank You All. Those of you who cherish and Love AMERICA. FOLKS,,You show there is hope,,keep up the Fight for Freedom,, as kindly as you (we) can. Forge Onward. American Patriots. GOD BLESS AMERICA ____FOREVER. Happy Chris..
THis is what Illegal migration causes homeless ness for American this President thought it was better to let anybody in this Country feed then and give them anything they want and forget any American that needs help .SHAMEFULL.
Maybe if we put a stop to giving illegals aide and spending money on nonsense we could provide better option for the people. I am sure there is a percentage that like living that way, but I am also sure the majority would rather be back on their feet and be productive. I have been homeless several times due to circumstances beyond my control and it wasn’t fun, but it does make you appreciate what you did have and what you do have if you are able to get back on your feet. Too many people have forgotten the Golden Rule and pushed God completely out of their lives and this country.
Less crime, welfare and homelessness? STOP letting dummies support themselves having b$trds.
Cities should share Ideas, plans & concepts from public & make acessable to developers etc.
Reuse idle bldgs for Temp Homes
Use camp sites for Homeless, etc.
More can be done.
& end Leftist policies creating more Homeless.