Thank You for Saying NO to Criminalizing Homelessness!

A few days ago, we asked our supporters to help us kill Senate Bill 1011, which would prohibit sitting, lying, sleeping, or storing personal property within 500 feet of any public or private school, open space, or major transit stop, and in the process criminalizing homelessness across wide swaths of the state without offering real, tangible solutions to the state's housing crisis.

We wanted to pass on the celebratory news that due to your hard work and efforts to speak up, SB 1011 was killed in the Senate Public Safety Committee meeting. Despite the fact that cities up and down the state are grappling with a proliferation of homeless camps, legislators said they oppose penalizing down-and-out residents who sleep on public property. More than three dozen people voiced their opposition to the bill during Tuesday's hearing, speaking on behalf of organizations such as Drop LWOP Coalition members Ella Baker Center for Human Rights and the American Civil Liberties Union California Action. Representatives counted 77 Me Too comments in opposition, including group Me Toos listed by people at the hearing, against SB 1011. There was one Me Too in support.

Organizers offered a special shout out to the many advocates with lived expertise from Camp Resolution, Homeless Unions around the state, and others who showed up to speak truth to power who truly shifted the conversation.

Quotes from the hearing:

• Desiree Martinez: "I have witnessed and endured law enforcement over the years searching, seizing, and destroying our property and our lives. I have witnessed and endured brutal punishments on us—especially those that suffer with physical disabilities—punished because we do not move fast enough, until everything is taken from us: our blankets, our food, clothing, medicine, tents, tarps, even our dog food. Anything that would help us survive the next day."
• Brandon Green: "It’s anti-Black. Black people and people of color are over-represented in the unhoused population and the criminal-legal system. And this bill would exacerbate both. We know that the solution to houselessness is more homes and more affordable housing. This bill does neither, and passes the buck to unhoused people instead of the government, which is actually responsible for the problem.
• Senator Aisha Wahab (D10), Committee Chairperson: “Just because individuals that are unhoused make people uncomfortable does not mean that it should be criminalized. And this bill does that.”
• Senator Nancy Skinner (D9): “It’s kind of like trying to make a problem invisible versus addressing the core of the problem.”

Please join us in thanking the three Senators, Wahab, Skinner and Scott Weiner (SD11), who provided the NO votes that killed the bill in committee. You can use this sample tweet:

Housing is a human right, and the solution to houselessness.

SB 1011 would have criminalized and fined our unhoused neighbors with devastating consequences. Thank you to Senators @Aishabbwahab @Scott_Wiener  @NancySkinnerCA for voting NO on #SB1011.

You can also watch the Committee Hearing. Specifically, Brandon's comments begin at the 41:00 minute mark, and Desiree's begin at 42:30.

This action is one of many examples demonstrating that your advocacy matters. Your support for those whose voices can't or won't be heard matters. Your work creates change that makes lives better, communities safer and families whole again. Never, ever believe otherwise.

Again, we are deeply grateful for all your work and dedication along side us to create a fairer and more just world. We cannot do it without you.