Petition: End the Criminalization of Homelessness in Los Angeles

Recently, the Los Angeles City Council passed a measure that essentially criminalizes homelessness. The measure aims to limit homeless encampments around the city and thus, makes it illegal for homeless people to sit, lie, sleep, or store personal items if they block sidewalks, streets, or right-of-ways; are within 10 feet of an operational driveway or loading dock or within two feet of a fire hydrant. The measure also applies on a case-by-case basis near schools, daycares, public parks, libraries, overpasses and underpasses, freeway ramps, and even homeless shelters.

Opponents of the measure emphasize that it “criminalizes poverty.” One of the two councilmembers who voted against this measure, Mike Bonin, explained, “People want housing. They do not want warehousing, they don’t want shelter. They want housing. There are far more people who want housing than sufficient resources.” Furthermore, many opponents pose the question, “Where are all of these people expected to go?” since LA homeless shelters only have the capacity for up to 39% of LA’s current homeless population.

Like many other cities, Los Angeles does have a homeless crisis. However, criminalizing homelessness and fining houseless individuals does nothing to actually help. Addressing the homeless crisis involves investing in social services, creating affordable housing, providing accessible mental health resources, and removing the many barriers that make it nearly impossible for houseless people to get jobs. Issues like this do not go away by punishing people for the conditions of a society that they did not have a say in. Homelessness needs to be addressed at its root cause so the houseless individuals can actually be helped, not just cast off and treated like they’re not human beings.

Sign this petition to tell California’s governor Gavin Newsom and the California state legislature to pass a statewide law overturning the criminalization of homelessness.

To continue speaking up, sign these other petitions as well:

• Use Trained Crisis Counselors Instead of Police For Certain 911 Calls
• Ban Use of Attack Dogs by Police Officers

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