Criminalization policies add to the stigma surrounding homelessness by targeting and marginalizing homeless individuals, ultimately impacting how society views and talks about them.2 To solve this, it is essential to include homeless individuals in the decision-making process in order to meet their needs. After all, if policymakers experience similar burdens, they are less likely to pass harmful laws.2 New policies should keep the well-being of the entire community in mind. This starts with truly understanding the homeless populations as well as the daily obstacles that they face.
One of the biggest misconceptions is that people can simply choose to stop being homeless. This belief often fuels policies that criminalize activities such as camping, panhandling, drinking, and urinating in public—activities that typically take place in private.2 While these laws do not explicitly mention homelessness, the behaviors that they target are commonly associated with being unhoused. The goal of these laws is to make the cost of these activities so high that homeless individuals are forced to either end their experience of homelessness or move elsewhere.2 In reality, they do not have this choice.
Another misconception is that homeless individuals are highly mobile. Some people believe that by establishing strong rehousing programs, a locality will draw homeless populations from other areas. However, research shows otherwise. One study found that compared to 40.7% of the general population, 46.11% of homeless individuals were born in the state they were living in, and 78% had an in-state ZIP code for their last permanent residence.3 In fact, nearly 90% of homeless individuals still live in the community where they were once housed.1 Even though some individuals are interested in accessing rehousing services, they often remain in their community where they have a support system. Other times, they simply do not have access to proper transportation. Homeless individuals often lose personal possessions such as bikes or vehicles when they face jail time, making it even harder for them to consider moving to other regions.4 For those with the highest needs, traveling is not an option as they need to focus on their daily survival. Similarly, when individuals are displaced from encampments, their only option may be to move to nearby public spaces, which only further entraps them in the cycle of displacement.4 This shows that criminalizing the homeless does not reduce homelessness but instead burdens both the individual and the system as a whole.
Oftentimes, instead of helping homeless individuals find housing, they are temporarily moved and fined, which makes survival even more challenging. For example, during encampment sweeps, sleep deprivation and stimulant use increase in an attempt to stay awake to protect personal belongings.1 These sweeps also cause feelings of alienation and isolation when people are removed from their unhoused community.1 Unfortunately, there are very few healthcare systems in the U.S. that provide continuing care to homeless individuals, leaving crises response and emergency rooms as a last resort.3 This not only affects the homeless individuals who need care, but it also contributes to emergency department overcrowding.3 To mitigate this, focused efforts are needed to improve health outcomes for homeless individuals, including educating providers to refer homeless patients to outpatient facilities. To achieve a lasting solution, this should also be paired with permanent housing solutions for those who are displaced. If we can achieve this, we will not only ensure continuity of care for homeless individuals, but we will create solutions that are lasting, cost-effective, and most importantly, humane.
References:
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- Invisible People, “Criminalization Is Making Sleep Disorders Worse for Unhoused People,” Invisible People, accessed April 14, 2025, https://invisiblepeople
- Hannah Lebovits and Andrew Sullivan, “Do Criminalization Policies Impact Local Homelessness? Exploring the Limits and Concerns of Socially Constructed Deviancy,” SSRN, accessed April 14, 2025, https://ssrn.com/abstract=4716230
- R.D. Parker and S. Dykema, “The Reality of Homeless Mobility and Implications for Improving Care,” Journal of Community Health 38 (2013): 685–689, accessed April 14, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-013-9664-2
- National Alliance to End Homelessness, “Criminalizing Homelessness Worsens the Crisis,” National Alliance to End Homelessness, accessed April 14, 2025, https://endhomelessness.org