Columbus City Council is considering criminalizing homelessness. We need citizens to reach out to them and express our concerns

What Communities need to know about criminalizing homelessness

Listen to a “Today Explained” podcast where this issue comes up

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Note: The City Council Meeting to address passed the resolution. We had an observer present and she reports a few quotations from the Meeting:

The Church needs to deal with these issues”

Glenn Davis –  expressing a preference for the Faith community to lead homeless outreach over government.

“I don’t want people to have a record just because they’re homeless”

Gary Allen

“We can come back and make changes”

Bruce Huff

“They can’t really help it”

B.H. Skip Henderson – referring to challenges homeless people have

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Take Action

Public meetings are 9 am 2nd Tuesdays and 5:30 pm 4th Tuesdays.

City Council meetings give Indivisible members the chance to:

• Learn about how the Council approves decisions
  • Presentations – Specific City Departments or guest speakers will give updates on their big projects and proposals.
  • Ordinances – new city laws.
  • Zoning decisions – affect neighborhood infrastructure, investment, and equity.
  • Public Agenda
    • Even individual citizen complaints demonstrate a lot of challenges among neighborhoods and community groups.
    • The public agenda usually breaks down the most divisive city controversies.  
  • City Manager’s Agenda, Purchases – budget decisions (can range from jails, sports facilities, small community grants)
  • Agendas are usually posted last minute, Thursday evening, the night before the public agenda deadline
• Speak on the Public Agenda
  • 5-8 minutes of dedicated microphone time for a verbal speech or questions for the Council, usually on a specific issue
  • Fill out this form by Friday 12:00 pm the week before a meeting to get a chance to speak!
• Network with other community organizations and leaders who attend the meetings
• Learn about openings on City Boards (also listed in the Agenda Packet HTML)
• Watch your local Council Member to hold them accountable. (Map of each district available on the Council Member’s page). 

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Find your representative

Contact City Council

Here’s a sample letter. Please take a moment to customize and express things in your voice.

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Dear [Elected Official’s Name],

This letter urges support for policies that decriminalize homelessness and prioritize humane and effective solutions. Criminalizing homelessness, including ticketing, arrests, and fines for activities like sleeping in public, does not address the root causes and can worsen the challenges faced by those experiencing it.

Research shows that criminalization does not reduce homelessness. It creates barriers for individuals seeking to rebuild their lives, such as:

• Difficulty securing employment: Arrest records and fines can hinder employment, trapping individuals in poverty and homelessness.
• Reduced access to services: Criminalization can disrupt access to support networks, shelter, healthcare, and essential resources, making it harder to exit homelessness.
• Negative impacts on health: Constant threats from law enforcement and the trauma of living on the streets can have detrimental effects on physical and mental health. Displacement can disrupt healthcare access, worsening chronic illnesses and other health conditions.
• Increased financial strain: Fines and fees burden individuals already struggling to afford basic necessities.

Decriminalizing homelessness is a matter of human rights and is a more effective and fiscally responsible approach. Communities that prioritize housing and supportive services over criminalization often see better outcomes in reducing homelessness and improving public safety.

Support policies that invest in affordable housing, mental health services, substance use treatment, and other community-based solutions. Focusing on collaborative efforts will lead to more positive and lasting change for individuals experiencing homelessness and for the community as a whole.

Thank you for your time and attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

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Get on the City Council Agenda to speak