Central Questions

• Do anti-camping laws reduce homelessness?

• How do they affect people experiencing homelessness?

Takeaways

1. The enforcement of anti-camping laws often leads to negative impacts on the health and well-being of homeless individuals by criminalizing homelessness and endangering unhoused individuals.

2. Enforcing anti-camping laws raises legal and ethical issues, potentially violating the civil rights of unhoused individuals.

3. Coordinated and collaborative service provision as an alternative to criminalization has proven to be more effective in reducing homelessness.

4. A shift from punitive measures towards Housing First and collaborative services is required.