Living in a public, usually urban environment, forces those living without shelter into repeated interactions with law enforcement. We have compiled resources on this subject that are useful to advocates, educators, service providers and anti-poverty activists.
National Coalition for the Homeless – A US site with resources on homelessness (including the criminalization of the homeless), projects and advocacy links for the homeless.
The Homeless Hub – Lots of resources on homelessness, including a library of documents and fact sheets on different sub-topics. Also includes a page with curriculums for teaching about homelessness issues in classrooms. Specific page on criminalization of the homeless here.
Megaphone Magazine – Vancouver’s Street Paper, sold on the streets of Vancouver by homeless and low-income vendors. Vendors buy the paper for 50 cents and sell the magazine to customers by donation. All money from the transaction goes into the pocket of the vendor. Those that sell the paper say it gives them a sense of pride and has helped some overcome drug and alcohol addiction, others shyness and insecurity, by giving them a place and a voice in their community. Reports on stories related to poverty and homelessness in Vancouver.
Metro Vancouver Homelessness Partnering Strategy – information on Vancouver’s municipal homelessness plan.
David Eby’s Blog: David Eby is director of the BC Civil Liberties Association. He blogs about issues relating to homelessness and poverty in Vancouver.
New York Times article on the criminalization of the homeless – From August 2009, reports on the increased use of “neutral” citations, like jaywalking tickets, given to the homeless.
Homes not Handcuffs – [PDF] – 2009 Report on the criminalization of homelessness from the American National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty and The National Coalition for the Homeless.
To Serve and Protect: A Report on Policing in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside – from Pivot Legal Society – In 2002, the Pivot Legal Society took affidavits from 50 individuals in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, documenting unlawful interactions between Vancouver Police and members of the Downtown Eastside community. The report documents and analyzes police interactions amounting to assault, torture, unlawful confinement, unreasonable use of force and discrimination.
The Plan to Arrest the Homeless – From the BC Civil Liberties Association, about a proposed measure to arrest Vancouver homeless who refuse shelter beds in the winter. Starts on page 7.
