As the number of unhoused Americans grows, some jurisdictions are going against the advice of advocates and imposing harsh penalties for sleeping in public spaces.

Cities and states are starting to take harsher measures against unhoused residents, reports Robbie Sequeira in Stateline, in part as a response to more complaints by local businesses and housed residents. However, homeless advocates warn that punitive measures that criminalize unhoused people and only address visible homelessness rarely succeed in getting people into supportive services and housing.
Yet states and cities around the country including Missouri, Tennessee, Texas, San Diego, and Portland, Oregon have passed camping bans that prevent homeless people from sleeping in public areas and performed violent sweeps to clear encampments. “The new Georgia law is the most far-reaching. It goes beyond a camping ban by steering the state away from the ‘housing first’ strategy embraced by many advocates.”
Meanwhile, homelessness rose by 12 percent in 2023 over the previous year, and the end of pandemic-era assistance programs could lead to even more evictions.
FULL STORY: As homeless people become more visible, some cities and states take a tougher line

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Opinion: Transit Agencies Must View Service Cuts as Last Resort
Reducing service could cripple transit systems by pushing more riders to consider car ownership, making future recovery even less certain.

‘Smart Surfaces’ Policy Guide Offers Advice for Building and Maintaining Urban Tree Canopies
Healthy, robust tree canopies can reduce the impacts of extreme heat and improve air quality.

New Jersey Lawsuit Targets Rent-Setting Algorithms
The state of New Jersey is taking legal action against landlords and companies that engage in what the state’s Attorney General alleges is illegal rent fixing.
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