Friend –

California's rising cost of living pushes more people out of stable housing year after year. Now, instead of offering support and a safety net to community members without housing, some local governments are citing or even criminally charging people for sharing food or water with an unhoused person. Examples include El Cajon where 12 people were cited for sharing food with unhoused neighbors and a church-based charity in Santa Ana that was threatened with prosecution for providing aid to people experiencing houselessness.

Let's be clear: Kindness is not a crime. Compassion is not a criminal offense. And this is not the California we aspire to be.

Tell lawmakers to protect your right to help your community members by voting YES on SB 634.

SB 634 would:

• Stop cities from criminalizing acts of humanitarian aid;
• Ensure Californians can offer food, water, and support without facing citations or prosecution;
• Reinforce the principle that housing is a human right and that helping others should never be a crime.

The answer to houselessness isn't punishment. It's safe, affordable, and permanent housing. Until that vision is fully realized, Californians must be able to provide life-saving resources to those in need without fear of punishment. California must choose a better path, and SB 634 is a critical opportunity to protect our communities and uphold our values.

Together, we can ensure California remains a place where compassion is protected – not punished.

Thanks for taking action,

David Trujillo
Pronouns: he/his
Executive Director, ACLU California Action