The Santa Clara Valley Water District's recent ordinance imposes heavy fines and potential jail sentences on unhoused individuals living on district property, set to take effect on January 2. Advocates and service providers have strongly opposed this measure, arguing that it criminalizes homelessness despite claims to the contrary. In response, numerous nonprofits have vowed to reject outreach grant opportunities associated with the policy until it is repealed, emphasizing that such measures exacerbate trauma for the unhoused rather than providing sustainable, humane solutions for housing and support.
We refuse to use the good will we have established with the unhoused community to implement a policy adopted over our objections and without regard for our suggestions.
Criminalization causes unnecessary anxiety and trauma, and creates more barriers for people to access employment and housing.
It is wrong to offer people temporary hope and services that only lead to citations and arrests when alternative housing or shelter is not provided.
We cannot support any policy that increases the fear, uncertainty, distrust, trauma and incarceration of Black, brown and immigrant people who make up such a large portion of the unhoused population.
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