homelessness

Buckshot Cunningham lived without housing for years before he moved into a small cottage at Hope Village, a shelter run by the nonprofit Rogue Retreat in southern Oregon.

Law Enforcement Officials Argue Rural Homeless Services Worsen Problem

6:06pm January 21, 2020

by April Ehrlich

Rural homelessness in Oregon isn't as visible as its urban equivalent, but it's a major problem. Even when money is available, local officials say providing resources could make the problem worse.

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Eagle Village resident Jolene Neiss says it's important to make each room feel like the resident's home with decorations, knickknacks and family photos.

National

Seattle Shelter Focuses On Native Peoples Experiencing Homelessness

9:33am December 30, 2019

by Casey Martin

Organizers hope potential residents are more comfortable coming to a facility that attends to their specific cultural needs.

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San Francisco police officers wait while homeless people collect their belongings. Nearly a quarter of the country's homeless population lives in California.

National

Supreme Court Won't Hear Case On Ban Against Homeless Sleeping In Public Spaces

2:39pm December 16, 2019

The denial upholds a lower court ruling that put severe limits on cities' ability to enforce anti-camping ordinances on streets and in public rights of way. Advocates for the homeless lauded the move.

A person sleeps on a sidewalk near New York's Times Square this past week. A new report says more and more American cities are passing laws that make it illegal to sleep outside, on the street, in a park or in your own car.

National

Opinion: Should It Be Illegal To Sleep Outside?

12:34pm December 14, 2019

by Scott Simon

Laws that ban sleeping outside favor relocation over resolving the problems that force people onto the streets.

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Robert Marbut has been tapped to lead the federal office on homelessness. Marbut is seen here in 2011 in a shelter in Clearwater, Fla.

White House Names Controversial Pick To Head Homelessness Office

3:25pm December 05, 2019

by Laurel Wamsley

Advocates for the homeless worry that Robert Marbut, a consultant who has been hired by many cities, will roll back the successes of arranging housing for the homeless.

News

Report: Greensboro Homeless Disproportionately Targeted By Police

7:30am November 13, 2019

by April Laissle

People experiencing homelessness in Greensboro face major barriers to attaining permanent housing and financial stability, according to a new study by UNCG, Guilford College, and the Homeless Union

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler and President Trump attend an event about the environment at the White House in July.

Trump Administration Blames Homeless For California's Water Pollution

5:54pm September 26, 2019

California leaders called these claims "political retribution" and denied that the homeless crisis is affecting environmental issues.

Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg (center), head of Big City Mayors, discusses the homeless problem after the group met with California Gov. Gavin Newsom in March. Steinberg says it's time for any adversarial relationship between cities and the Trump adm

The Ongoing Clash Between Trump And Big Cities

10:20am September 24, 2019

by Cheryl Corley

Mayors of some of the cities the president targets say they aren't worried about jeopardizing federal funding and will continue fighting the rhetoric and policies they believe will harm urban areas.

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The basic toilet kit that Mark Lloyd distributes to homeless camps in Seattle includes a tent, bucket, seat, cat litter, toilet paper and sanitizer.

Seattle Man's Toilet Kit For The Homeless Brings Privacy, Opens Doors

1:30pm August 03, 2019

by Gabriel Spitzer

The city is facing a huge and visible homelessness crisis. One tech worker decided to help by bringing private toilets to outdoor camps.

Homeless residents often live outdoors in tents in rural Kentucky. Rarely pitched out in the open, like this one in Lexington, most are hidden in thick bushes of wooded areas.

Health & Safety

In Rural Areas, Homeless People Are Harder To Find — And To Help

12:25pm July 04, 2019

by Mary Meehan

Homelessness is often considered an urban problem. But rural Americans often experience homelessness as well. Advocates struggle to reach homeless rural residents and connect them with services.