PASS THE HOMELESS PROTECTION ACT
The Homeless Protection Act would classify homelessness as a protected status under NYS hate crimes law.
WHY?
While research clearly demonstrates that people experiencing homelessness are much more likely to be the victim of a violent crime than to commit one, we are seeing a disturbing and increasing trend of unprovoked violence directed at people experiencing homelessness.
The long-term solution to violence is to shift public discourse to affirm the dignity, worth, and humanity of our neighbors experiencing homelessness while also increasing access and resources for a robust social safety net. While we advocate for housing solutions and access to wraparound supportive services, we must also work to destigmatize poverty and homelessness.
Advocates with the lived experience of homelessness support this legislation and believe it should be made a priority.
It is crucial that the fundamental human rights of people experiencing homelessness are upheld in New York.
We need a stronger mechanism for reporting and documenting attacks against unstably housed people to get a clearer picture of the extent of the issue.
Most notably, this bill would combat the stigmatization of people experiencing homelessness.
How?
The Homeless Protection Act (A.2191A/S.6081B), introduced by Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal and Senator Luis Sepúlveda, would expand New York hate crime laws to include homelessness as a protected class. This means that an attack against a person experiencing homelessness motivated by bias could be treated as a hate crime. If our State Legislature were to pass this legislation, New York would join a list of states and localities including Florida, Maine, Maryland, Rhode Island, Utah, and Washington, D.C. to hold this protection.
From the campaign: “Redefining Our Responsibility to Unhoused New Yorkers”
Frederick Shack, CEO of Urban Pathways | Gotham Gazette | May 15, 2023
“Passing the Homeless Protection Act is an essential step toward recognizing the dignity and rights of unhoused individuals.”
From the campaign: Policy report
Urban Pathways, Care For the Homeless | January 8th, 2024