Homes Not Handcuffs: The Criminalization Of Homelessness In U.s. Cities

Homes Not Handcuffs: The Criminalization of Homelessness in U.S. Cities The National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty and The National Coalition for the Homeless July 2009 ABOUT THE NATIONAL LAW CENTER ON HOMELESSNESS & POVERTY The National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC and founded in 1989 to serve as the legal arm of the national movement to end and prevent homelessness. To carry out this mission, the Law Center focuses on the root causes of homelessness and poverty and seeks to meet both the immediate and long-term needs of homeless and poor people. The Law Center addresses the multifaceted nature of homelessness by: identifying effective model laws and policies, supporting state and local efforts to promote such policies, and helping grassroots groups and service providers use, enforce and improve existing laws to protect homeless people’s rights and prevent even more vulnerable families, children, and adults from losing their homes. By providing outreach, training, and legal and technical support, the Law Center enhances the capacity of local groups to become more effective in their work. The Law Center’s new Homelessness Wiki website also provides an interactive space for advocates, attorneys, and homeless people across the country to access and contribute materials, resources, and expertise about issues affecting homeless and lowincome families and individuals. You are invited to join the network of attorneys, students, advocates, activists, and committed individuals who make up NLCHP’s membership network. Our network provides a forum for individuals, non-profits, and corporations to participate and learn more about using the law to advocate for solutions to homelessness. For more information about our organization, membership, and access to publications such as this report, please visit our website at www.nlchp.org. 2 Board of Directors William Breakey, M.D., Chair Johns Hopkins University Vasiliki Tsaganos, Vice-Chair Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP Edward McNicholas, Secretary Sidley Austin LLP Michael Allen, Treasurer Microsoft Corporation Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Bruce J. Casino Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP Pamela Malester Community Volunteer Roderick DeArment Covington & Burling Howard Godnick Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP Tashena Middleton Moore Jones Day Margaret Pfeiffer Sullivan & Cromwell Kirsten Johnson-Obey Porterfield & Lowenthal LLC Jeffrey Simes Goodwin Procter LLP Father Alexander Karloutsos Mona Touma Goldman, Sachs & Co *Affiliations for identification purposes only LEAP Members Honorary Chairperson John Grisham, Author Chair Goodwin Procter LLP Jeffrey Simes Thomas Mikula Members Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer, & Feld LLP Steven Schulman Blank Rome, LLP Michael Cioffi Bruce Rosenblum The Carlyle Group* Covington & Burling LLP Roderick DeArment Dechert LLP Suzanne Turner DLA Piper Elizabeth Dewey Roberta Ritvo Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP Vasiliki Tsaganos Greenberg Traurig LLP Harold Iselin Hogan & Hartson LLP Patricia Brannan 3 Jenner & Block LLP Thomas Perrelli Jones Day Donald Ayer Latham & Watkins LLP Roger Goldman Katten, Muchin, Rosenman LLP John Muir Morrison & Foerster Foundation W. Stephen Smith O’Melveny & Myers LLP John Beisner Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP Daniel Greenberg Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP Peter Thomas Sidley Austin LLP Carter Phillips Sullivan & Cromwell LLP Margaret Pfeiffer WilmerHale Chris Herrling Staff of NLCHP Catherine Bendor Legal Director Vibha Bhatia Director of Operations Katherine Bittner Grant Writer/ Communications Assistant Jessica Gustin Human Rights Fellow Steffi Jose Developmen