The sharp increase in the unhoused population calls for urgent action, not criminalization.

In an opinion piece for The Hill, Margot Kushel and Gregg Colburn argue that the criminalization of homelessness does nothing to address its root causes, and that governments should focus on creating more affordable housing instead.
The authors point to a Supreme Court case, Grants Pass v. Johnson, which could decide whether local governments can criminalize living outdoors when shelter is not available. “This case has resulted in an inaccurate and harmful framing of homelessness by suggesting that there are only two potential outcomes: Either arrest those who are unhoused or homelessness will become an inevitable and permanent fixture of the urban landscape.”
The authors point to a third option: “providing subsidized housing with services to people experiencing homelessness.” Rather than forcibly displacing people, governments can do more to address structural causes like access to housing.
“Coordinated and well-resourced local efforts can make a measurable impact on homelessness, but without federal funding, there won’t be sustained success.” The drastic reduction in veteran homelessness since 2010 reveals the potential impact of an “appropriately scaled” federal initiative.
For the authors, “The answers to homelessness are clear. It is critical that policymakers in local, state and federal governments use their power to address the acute affordable housing shortage that plagues communities in every state in the nation.”
FULL STORY: Affordable housing is the solution to homelessness, not criminalization

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

North Texas Transit Leaders Tout Benefits of TOD for Growing Region
At a summit focused on transit-oriented development, policymakers discussed how North Texas’ expanded light rail system can serve as a tool for economic growth.

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

Santa Barbara Could Build Housing on County Land
County supervisors moved forward a proposal to build workforce housing on two county-owned parcels.

San Mateo Formally Opposes Freeway Project
The city council will send a letter to Caltrans urging the agency to reconsider a plan to expand the 101 through the city of San Mateo.

A Bronx Community Fights to Have its Voice Heard
After organizing and giving input for decades, the community around the Kingsbridge Armory might actually see it redeveloped — and they want to continue to have a say in how it goes.
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