April 2021
Right to Housing:
a Civil Rights Newsletter
Racial Equity
An older piece, but still a very relevant article about the link between racism and homelessness: ‘Two Sides Of The Same Coin’: Addressing The Link Between Racism And Homelessness
Interactions with Police: Sweeps
While we are working through the worst humanitarian crisis in American history with over a half million deaths due to the pandemic, cities are still wasting resources on sending their local armed militias out to sweep away encampments of homeless people. In some cities, like Akron, OH, a sweep is ordered under the cover as a local private property dispute, or, like in Seattle, WA and Modesto, CA where the city claims to be clearing homeless people due to a health emergency (whose health?). But most of the time it is just brute force sending an army of law enforcement officers in tactical gear invading the only place available to a person in an area with extreme housing costs like Los Angeles. The attack of people living in Echo Park in Los Angeles in March was a huge mobilization that cleared out this public space and offered motel space to only a few of those living outside.
Time, Place, Manner restrictions
The Tennessee legislature is attempting to make it illegal to express your first amendment right to ask for a donation, and also to bar sleeping outside on public land. Both of these provisions have lost in other jurisdictions in the federal courts with panhandling going all the way to the US Supreme Court.
Unfortunately, the Right to Rest ordinance in the Oregon State legislature was pulled at the last minute in March and rescheduled for April 13. Use this link to endorse the campaign if you have not already. There is also an opportunity to submit public comments especially for those living in Oregon. Activists from the West Coast are going to keep pushing this legislation so that cities will stand down attacks on homeless people and redirect law enforcement into protecting the public from bias crimes and responding to real crimes.
Voting Rights
Georgia passed an extremely hostile and racist voting restriction to solve a problem that never existed. NCH is still pushing the John Lewis Voting Rights bill (HR 1) to get through the US Senate, and we hope that athletes, celebrities and activists will consider some punishment for the State of Georgia and the City of Atlanta for passing this horrible restriction on the foundation principles of US democracy. We also urge companies headquartered in Georgia will take a stand against this assault on voting. It is crazy that a company like Coca Cola would issue such a weak statement on this piece of legislation that would not allow activists to offer a Diet Coke to those waiting in long lines to vote in Georgia!
Hate Crimes
The Maryland State legislature is considering an update of the State’s hate crimes law which would offer protections to those experiencing homelessness.
Victories
In early March 2021, a federal court gave a victory to homeless people in Sausalito, CA, who were in danger of eviction by the City and County. The court granted a temporary restraining order against the City action citing the harm that could come to those living outside. This decision correctly questioned the city's decision during the middle of a pandemic and the potential harm with sending the groups to a congregate living facility like a shelter.
Spotlight on a Struggling Community
Sacramento has a higher than average number of people living in poverty and a small number of affordable housing units. The city has never effectively dealt with homelessness then the pandemic hit which only exacerbated the problems. They attempted to reduce the numbers in unsafe large shelters, but that meant that they could not offer hotel spaces to those outside. On multiple occasions, homeless people outside have suffered and died due to weather emergencies. All this and activists have had to go to court to protect against sweeps by multiple law enforcement agencies. There is no plan. There is no coordination and activists are struggling to keep people safe, fed, and healthy while the City, County and social service network argue and deflect.
We Remember...
There were a series of cars that ran into campsites over the last month. We remember, Kellie Jones, who seems to have been an impartial bystander to a dispute that escalated into a fight in which an individual used his vehicle to attempt to kill a person living in a tent. Ms. Jones died after being struck by the vehicle. Kellie Jones is pictured here when she met the Vice Mayor of Santa Rosa, CA a few years ago. She had been homeless for a very long time and was kind and generous with those living rough in Southern California.
Other Civil Rights updates
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The True Colors Foundation released a good report on the state at homeless youth.
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The Kaiser Family Foundation has good stats on mental illness and trusted health statistics regarding the pandemic. Check it out for solid information about health disparities.
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We have distributed 1.5 million masks over the last 3 months as part of Ford Motor Company Mask distribution program #FinishStong.
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NCH posted a profile of Barb Anderson on our blog and the problems facing homeless people in a rural Indiana community.
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NCH also posted a statement urging communities to prioritize and issue plans for how to vaccinate homeless folks.
Goals & objectives for NCH Civil Rights Committee
1. Moratorium on Police Sweeps. A Justice Department issued federal ban on police sweeps of homeless encampments or squatters without court overseen eviction proceedings during the pandemic.
2. NCH supports an Executive Order on an Eviction Moratorium which was extended until June 2021.
3. Social Workers in Place of Police Officers. While the sweeps moratorium is in place, law enforcement would be told to implement a new policing model in which every jurisdiction would dispatch social workers to deal with calls regarding people experiencing homelessness instead of law enforcement.
4. Panhandling Laws Dismissed. Partner with the National advocates to ask the Justice Department to issue guidance to the local jurisdictions that panhandling is protected speech, and local communities need to stop enforcing unconstitutional laws.
5. You Don’t Need a Home to Vote. NCH supports the national John Lewis Voting Rights Act legislation and will work to see it passed into law. Other concepts in voting that make it easier for people experiencing homelessness is registration deadlines and early voting beginning so that a homeless individual can do both at the same time. Finally with regard to voting, either identification is free in the United States or cannot be required to vote.
6. Hate Crimes Collection of Data. The Justice Department needs to mandate that bias crimes against members of a protected class be collected by every local jurisdiction and reported in a timely manner to the Federal database. Congress should expand the definition of protected classes to include those without a safe secure place to sleep as well as lesbian, gay, transgender, and questioning individuals.
7. Investigating Police Violence. NCH will ask the Justice Department to mandate that officer involved shootings must be investigated by the state police and not the law enforcement from a local area.
What can I do?
Take Action this month:
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If you are in Oregon, support the Right to Rest hearing by watching/testifying in support of those who do not use the shelters.
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Is your state requiring identification to get a vaccine shot? This is a barrier to homeless people accessing essential health care protections and should be reported to the CDC and the State health authority. ID is expensive, difficult to get the sourcing information, and typically tied to a residence. Vaccines for COVID should be a human right not a privilege reserved for the housed community.
Contact us
We have a monthly call for advocates at local coalitions who work on Civil Rights Issues. Contact us if you represent a Coalition of advocates who want to help protect the rights of those experiencing homelessness at [email protected].
This newsletter is going out to all members for the second month or so, but we are building a list of individual and organizational members who want to continue to receive this newsletter. If you want to stay on the Right to Housing Civil Right Newsletter please drop me an e-mail to continue to receive this information [email protected] or if you want to suggest content or information.
National Coalition for the Homeless, 2201 P Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
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