Cities across the U.S. and Canada have implemented bylaws making it illegal to sleep in public places. Now British Columbia's Supreme Court is considering a court case challenging such laws as violating the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
"Now, for the first time in Canada, a...court challenge is under way in British Columbia, arguing that bylaws enacted by the City of Victoria [restricting the activities of the homeless] violate the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Victoria's bylaws prohibit the erection of any shelter in a public place and sleeping overnight in parks. The city currently has about 175 permanent shelter spaces -- but more than 700 homeless people, according to an official municipal count.
Two court injunctions were obtained last fall to dismantle tent cities that had been erected on grounds owned by the province and in a local park.
The onus on homeless people to comply with laws that ban sleeping in public places, when they have nowhere else to sleep, effectively 'criminalizes' homelessness, said Mark Rosenbaum, a lawyer who acted for the American Civil Liberties Union in challenging the Los Angeles ordinance, which focused on an area known as Skid Row."
FULL STORY: B.C. bylaws targeting homeless face court challenge
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Has President Trump Met His Match?
Doug Ford, the no-nonsense premier of Canada's most populous province, Ontario, is taking on Trump where it hurts — making American energy more expensive.
USDOT Eliminates Environmental, Equity Considerations
A new memo rescinds Biden-era regulations that prioritized renewable energy, accessibility, and equity for historically disadvantaged communities.
Study: Drops in Transit Ridership Linked to Extreme Weather
Unsurprisingly, people are less likely to use transit during extreme weather events, which are becoming more common around the country.
Washington State May Cap Rent Increases at 7 Percent
House Bill 1217 was passed by the House and will move next to the state Senate.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Resource Assistance for Rural Environments
City of Edmonds
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research