Latest Homelessness News
Portland bans daytime camping, imposes other restrictions
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Portland's city council voted Wednesday to pass an ordinance prohibiting camping during daytime hours in most public places as it, like other places in the U.S., struggles to address a longtime homelessness crisis. The 3-1 vote changes city code to say that...
Portland mulls ban on daytime camping amid sharp rise in homelessness
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — City Council members in Portland were considering on Wednesday whether to ban homeless camping during daytime hours in most public places, a move that aims to bring the city into compliance with a new state law and appease the growing number of residents frustrated by a...
NYC enacts 'Homeless Bill of Rights,' but doubts arise over key provisions such as right to shelter
NEW YORK (AP) — New York Mayor Eric Adams allowed a “Homeless Bill of Rights” to become law over the weekend, a step supporters say will strengthen legal protections for the unhoused in a city struggling with a record number of people in its shelter system. The measure passed...
New Mexico homelessness spikes as housing costs surge
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A tally of the homeless population in New Mexico shows an abrupt jump in the number of people living without permanent housing or with no shelter at all, according to the legislative agency focused on budgeting and accountability. A spot-count commissioned by...
Citing migrant influx, New York mayor asks court to suspend long-standing 'right to shelter'
NEW YORK (AP) — New York's mayor asked a judge on Tuesday to let the city suspend its long-standing “right to shelter” obligation, saying officials are no longer able to house every homeless person because of the arrival of tens of thousands of international migrants. The right...
New York City has a right to shelter, but will it establish a right to sleep outside?
NEW YORK (AP) — New York Mayor Eric Adams has hailed his city’s right to shelter as a hallmark of compassion for its most destitute. Now he must decide if he will extend that compassion by bestowing homeless people with the right to sleep outside. The City Council unanimously...
Low-income tenants lack options as old mobile home parks are razed
PHOENIX (AP) — Alondra Ruiz Vazquez and her husband were comfortable in Periwinkle Mobile Home Park for a decade, feeling lucky to own their mobile home and pay about $450 a month for their lot in a city with spiraling rents. But now they and dozens of other families have until May...
West Virginia church gives homeless a safe storage space for possessions
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Carla Hall sifted through a large plastic container in the basement of a Charleston church and pulled out a dress. “It’s for a real date, if I actually ever get out of here,” Hall said, holding it up. “I cannot wait until I can actually have that on...
White House vows more federal aid to reduce homelessness in 5 cities and California
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Five major U.S. cities and the state of California will receive federal help to get unsheltered residents into permanent housing under a new plan launched Thursday as part of the Biden administration's larger goal to reduce homelessness 25% by 2025. The All...
Maine's largest city removes sprawling homeless encampment outside downtown
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine's largest city started removing a sprawling homeless encampment outside of its downtown area on Tuesday that was home to dozens of people living in tents. Officials in Portland began notifying people living in the camp in recent days that it would be...
