Protecting Public Spaces
The dramatic increase in homeless encampments over the last decade has deteriorated shared public spaces such as parks and downtown shopping districts. The crime and safety issues that accompany encampments make them susceptible to violence, exploitation, and drug trafficking. This dynamic puts both the housed and unhoused in danger.
Concerned citizens widely support restoring the health and safety of their communities by establishing rules around public camping.
There are three key ways to make that a reality:
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Camping Bans and Municipal Accountability
Cities and states have a duty to ensure the public benefits from a common area’s intended purpose. The recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson affirms this duty. Establishing and enforcing public camping bans reduces strain on law enforcement while improving public health and safety.
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Sanctioned Camping
Establishing sanctioned camping areas provides homeless individuals with a safer place to sleep soundly with access to necessities, such as showers and substance abuse treatment. Such sanctioned campsites must meet specific safety and accountability standards so that the needs of the people they serve are met while criminal activity and unsanitary conditions are avoided.
Resources
Drug-free Service Zones
High rates of substance abuse in and around homeless service facilities have created an environment in which homeless individuals are more likely to be victims of crime—and to commit crimes themselves. Establishing drug-free zones around these facilities would reduce the use and dissemination of illegal substances, as well as aid in the recovery of people experiencing homelessness.