There are particular laws and policies that explicitly target and harm people experiencing homelessness. These include camping bans, sit/stand ordinances, and the plethora of other “quality of life” laws. These laws criminalize the state of being homeless. They saddle people with legal fees and put them at increased risk of arrest and imprisonment. At the end of the day, they do nothing to end a person’s homelessness, and often make it even harder for them to secure the housing they need, due having a history of criminal justice involvement.

However, it would be dangerous to assume that these are the only laws that harm the people we serve. In fact, there are numerous laws that disproportionately harm people experiencing homelessness. At this moment, new legislation of this sort is being proposed and gaining traction in states and cities across the nation. Two of the most troubling examples right now include efforts to suppress the vote, and efforts to limit healthcare for transgender individuals.

Every Vote Counts

There has been a recent rise in concerning legislation focused on voting regulations. These include restrictions related to voter identification, residency requirements, vote-by-mail, and early voting.

Keep in mind that this isn’t just about Presidential elections. Often, the policies that have the greatest impact on people experiencing homelessness are the ones that happen on the local and state levels, including ballot measures related to homelessness, housing, zoning, and related issues.

Health Care Deprivation for Trans Youth

Concurrently, there is legislation being pushed in several states that will limit or eliminate health care options for transgender young people.

The various bills and code of law amendments have targeted healthcare providers who administer medication and therapies (and/or conduct surgeries) related to gender confirmation, gender dysphoria, hormone provision, and other health services associated with transgender healthcare. They have also targeted parents and guardians of transgender children who consent to these services.

Take a Stand

As these types of legislation are being introduced and considered in your state, note the negative impact they will have on our homeless neighbors who we work to serve every day. Voter suppression and health care denial threaten the safety and rights of people who are experiencing homelessness, creating yet more barriers for those who already face insurmountable obstacles. Speaking up about the impact of these types of barriers and discrimination against people experiencing homelessness in your community is the only way that progress will happen.

Read the full article about proposed laws that hurt people experiencing homelessness by Tashmia Bryant at National Alliance to End Homelessness.