Press Conference and Call By National Advocacy Groups On Laws Criminalizing Homelessness

New Study Finds 20 Meanest Cities and Constructive Alternatives to a "Dream Denied"

Press Type: Advisory   Associated Program: Civil Rights

Released: 01/2006

The National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) and the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty (NLCHP) will release their 2006 report tracking the escalating trend of criminalizing homelessness in 224 U.S. cities.

The report also ranks the top 20 meanest cities in the country based on a number of factors, including the number of anti-homeless laws in the city, the enforcement of those laws, the general political climate toward homeless people in the city, and the citys history of criminalization measures.

A Dream Denied focuses on specific city measures from 2005 that have targeted homeless persons, such as laws that make it illegal to sleep, eat, or sit in public spaces or placing restrictions on providers serving food to poor and homeless persons in public spaces.

The report also includes information about constitutional challenges to laws and practices that criminalize homelessness, as well as models for more constructive approaches to homelessness.

WHEN: Wednesday, January 11, at 10 AM EST

WHO: Michael Stoops, Acting Executive Director, National Coalition for the Homeless; Washington, DC Maria Foscarinis, Executive Director, National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty; Washington, DC Tulin Ozdeger, Civil Rights Attorney, National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty; Washington, DC After brief remarks, the panelists will take questions.

WHERE: Law Offices of Covington & Burling, LLP  12th Floor Conference Room, Report to 11th floor for entry 1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20004-2401 Accessible from Metro Center and Federal Triangle stops.

CALL IN: 1-703-788-0600 - PASSCODE: 504892 or 1-888-338-7820 - PASSCODE: 504892

CONTACT: For more information contact Melanie Mullen: mmullen@nlchp.org or Michael Stoops: mstoops@nationalhomelessness.org, and receive a pre-release Executive Summary.

NEWS ADVISORY page 2

News Conference Wednesday, January 11, 2006 Contact: Michael Stoops from NCH (202) 462-4822 or Melanie Mullen from NLCHP (202) 638-2535

The report documents criminalization issues in the following 95 cities and includes a comprehensive listing of criminalization laws in 224 cities across the country including: Albany, CA; Albany, OR; Albemarle, VA; Allentown, PA; Anchorage, AK; Ashland, OR; Athens, GA; Atlanta, GA; Augusta, GA; Augusta, ME; Austin, TX; Baltimore, MD; Bellevue, WA; Berkeley, CA; Bettendorf, IA; Boston, MA; Bradenton, FL; Burlington, WA; Cambridge, MA; Chapel Hill, NC; Charlotte, NC; Charlottesville, VA; Chicago, IL; Cleveland, OH; Columbus, GA; Columbus, OH; Corvallis, OR; Dallas, TX; Denver, CO; Des Moines, IA; Evanston, IL; Flagstaff, AZ; Forest Park, IL; Fort Lauderdale, FL; Ft. Myers, FL; Gainesville, FL; Healdsburg, CA; Hilo, HI; Honolulu, HI; Houston, TX; Jackson, TN; Jacksonville, FL; Kalamazoo, MI; Kansas City, MO; Lake Worth, FL; Las Vegas, NV; Lawrence, KS; Little Rock, AR; Long Beach, CA; Los Angeles, CA; Macon, GA; Memphis, TN; Miami, FL; Minneapolis, MN; Myrtle Beach, SC; Nashville, TN; Newark, NJ; New York, NY; Norwalk, CT; Orlando, FL; Palo Alto, CA; Patchogue Village, NY; Paterson, NJ; Phoenix, AZ; Pittsburgh, PA; Portland, OR; Portsmouth, NH; Rapid City, SD; Redondo Beach, CA; Rochester, NY; Sacramento, CA; Salt Lake City, UT; San Antonio, TX; San Bruno, CA; San Diego, CA; San Francisco, CA; San Juan, PR; San Luis Obispo, CA; Santa Cruz, CA; Santa Monica, CA; Sarasota, FL; Savannah, GA; Sioux Falls, SD; Somerville, MA; Spokane, WA; Springfield, MA; St. Augustine, FL; St. Louis, MO; Stamford, CT; Ukiah, CA; Ventura, CA; Wahiawa, HI; Washington, DC; Wichita, KS; Woodstock, IL

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