FORIMMEDIATERELEASE Contact:EricTars

September18,2015 (202)638-2535Ext.120
etars@nlchp.org

TheCostofCriminalizingHomelessnessJustWentUpby$1.9Billion
HUD Funding Requirement Building on Department of Justice Enforcement


WASHINGTON,DC-Today,September18,2015,theU.S.DepartmentofHousing&Urban
Development(HUD)addedtothegrowingfederalpressureagainstcriminalizationof
homelessnessbyincentivizingcommunitiestotakestepstoendcriminalizationinits$1.9
billiongrantprogramforfederalhomelessnessfunding.

HUDsnewrequirementforapplicantsoffederalhomelessnessfundingfollowsontheheelsof
theDepartmentofJusticesannouncementinAugustthatcriminalizingindividualsforbeing
homelessisunconstitutional.

Everytwoyears,HUDissuesitsNoticeofFundingAvailabilitytolocalContinuumsofCare
(localpartnershipsofpublicandprivateagenciesthataddresshomelessnessinagiven
geographicarea).Inthisyearsapplicationforthe$1.9billioninfunds,forthefirsttimeHUD
isaskingContinuumstodescribehowtheyarereducingcriminalizationofhomelessness.In
theextremelycompetitivefundingprocess,Continuumsabilitytofullyrespondtothis
questioncandetermineuptotwopointsinthefundingapplication,andinmanycasescouldbe
thedifferencebetweenreceivingfundingandnot.

Wewelcomethefederalgovernmentsdirectionoflimitedtaxdollarstotheplacesthatwill
mosteffectivelyusethatmoneytoaddresshomelessness,saidMariaFoscarinis,Executive
DirectoroftheNationalLawCenteronHomelessness&Poverty.Thefederalgovernment
cannotsustainablymeetitsgoalsofendingveteranshomelessnessthisyear,chronic
homelessnessnextyear,andallhomelessnessby2020ifcommunitiescontinuetowastescarce
taxdollarsonfailedpoliciesthatperpetuatehomelessness.

TheLawCenterhaspublishedmultiplereportsonthecriminalizationofhomelessness,
includingNoSafePlace,whichshowcasedthedramaticincreaseincriminalizationinthepast
fewyearsaswellascasestudiesofcommunitiesengaginginconstructivealternatives,andits
fewyearsaswellascasestudiesofcommunitiesengaginginconstructivealternatives,andits
NoSafePlaceAdvocacyManual,whichshowsthatwhencriminalizationordinancesare
challengedincourt,mostoftentheyarestruckdown.TheLawCenterhasalsogarnered
condemnationofcriminalizationascruel,inhuman,anddegradingtreatmentbytheUnited
NationsHumanRightsCommittee,CommitteeontheEliminationofRacialDiscrimination,
andHumanRightsCouncil,whomadespecificrecommendationstothefederalgovernmentto
adoptfundingincentivestoabolishthepractice.ThisquestionontheContinuumsfunding
applicationisthefirststepinimplementingthoserecommendations.

Criminalizationofhomelessnessisalreadymoreexpensivethanprovidinghousing,butthose
costsfromkeepingpeopleinjailtoincreasedemergencyroomvisitsareoftenhidden,said
EricTars,SeniorAttorneyattheLawCenter.WehopeHUDsnewquestionontheirfunding
applicationbringsareleastonecostthecostoflostfederaldollarscomingintothe
communityintofullview.Whenaddedtothepotentialcostsoflosinglitigation,theresreally
noreasonforcommunitiestoignoretheoverwhelmingdatathatshowshousingismore
effectivethancriminalization.

TheLawCenterishappytoprovidetechnicalassistancetocommunitiesinreviewingtheir
policiestoconformwiththeDepartmentofJusticebriefandHUDincentives,saidTars,We
willbehostingawebinaronOctober6at2pmETtohelpcommunitiesunderstand
criminalizationandmoreconstructivealternativeapproaches,andwehopemanycommunities
willtakeadvantageofthisopportunitytoreverseandeliminatetheseharmful,unconstitutional
practices.

Tosignupforthewebinar,clickhere:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6792264236216006146
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The National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty (www.nlchp.org) is the only national organization
dedicated solely to using the power of the law to prevent and end homelessness. With the support of a large
network of pro bono lawyers, we address the immediate and long-term needs of people who are homeless or at
risk through outreach and training, advocacy, impact litigation, and public education.