Implications of sharing homelessness data with law enforcement

As data sharing between sectors becomes more widespread, it is important for homelessness response systems and providers to consider the ramifications of providing data to law enforcement. This brief provides an overview of existing privacy laws that protect people’s personal information, covers the risks of sharing homelessness data with law enforcement, and offers immediate steps that Continuums of Care (CoCs) and service providers can take to strengthen protections for participants.

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Understanding the harms caused by the criminalization of homelessness

Communities across the country are resisting the criminalization of homelessness. Evidence shows that criminalization is costly and counterproductive. This memo provides some background and steps communities can take to avoid these harmful policies.

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Understanding the impact of involuntary civil commitment of people experiencing homelessness

This brief provides an overview of the history of civil commitments and the risks that they pose and offers immediate steps to advocate for individualized and voluntary care for individuals experiencing severe mental illness.

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Advancing Anti-Criminalization Efforts: Protecting the rights of people experiencing homelessness

This webinar co-hosted by Homebase and Destination: Home was designed to empower and educate Santa Clara County service providers, advocates, and community members about the legal rights of people experiencing homelessness, especially those affected by encampment sweeps and vehicle tows. The training also included information about reasonable accommodation requests for individuals with disabilities experiencing homelessness.

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PHAs and the Criminalization of Homelessness

This session at the Northern California Nevada National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) conference focused on the Grants Pass decision, why it matters for Public Housing Authorities and other housing providers, and what providers can do to help protect their clients while responding to an ever-changing legal landscape.

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Shifting the Narrative: A data-driven, person-centered approach to combating the criminalization of homelessness

This workshop at the National Human Services Data Consortium outlined how to leverage lived experience expertise to assess gaps in legal services and inform the creation of legal clinics for people experiencing homelessness.

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