WE NEED MORE HOUSING—NOT MORE HANDCUFFS

Learn about the negative, often harmful consequences of making the experience of homelessness a criminal act.

Letters & Statements
City Council Meeting Schedule
Take Action, Monday May 14
City Council Contact Information
Resources & Reports

News Coverage

How Can You Help?
1. Contact City Council
2. Contact Mayor Hancock
3. Attend Council Meetings
4. Share on Social Media
5. Sign ACLU Petition
6. Sign Change.org Petition

LETTERS & STATEMENTS

Colorado Coalition for the Homeless' Statement on "Camping Ban" Ordinance
John Parvensky, President, Colorado Coalition for the Homeless (May 15, 2012)
We think it is unfortunate that Denver's City Council moved forward with this punitive measure without first establishing a concrete plan to ensure that there was adequate emergency shelter, housing and treatment services for those sleeping on our streets tonight. Read more

Guest Commentary: Homeless aren't Criminals
Denver Post–John Parvensky, President, Colorado Coalition for the Homeless (April 5, 2012)
A proposed Denver city ordinance banning unauthorized "camping" would criminalize survival activities for persons experiencing homelessness. This would essentially criminalize the status of being homeless even though there are no adequate or appropriate alternatives for them. Read more

White Paper – Negative Impacts of an “Urban Camping Ban” in Denver
Colorado Coalition for the Homeless (March 27, 2012)
Given the lack of adequate emergency shelter to meet the needs of our citizens in Denver, the lack of health, mental health, and substance treatment services for those experiencing homelessness, and the lack of adequate permanent supportive housing and affordable housing for those in need, creating an urban camping ban would criminalize survival activities for persons experiencing homelessness. Read more

USA: “Moving Away from the Criminalization of Homelessness, a Step in the Right Direction”
United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (April 23, 2012)

United Nations human rights experts call for repeal of laws that criminalize homelessness. Read more

Letter from State Senators and Representatives: Proposed City Ordinance isn’t Way to Curb Homelessness
Senator Irene Aguilar, Senator Pat Steadman, Senator Lucia Guzman, Representative Angela Williams, and Representative Joe Miklosi (May 4, 2012)

As elected officials, we are all invested in fostering prosperity and community. We urge you to reject this ordinance. Instead, let us work together to protect all of our citizens, including the many who experience homelessness. Read more

Letter from the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado

American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado (April 16, 2012)
The Colorado chapter of the ACLU has released this letter to all members of the Denver City Council and the office of Mayor Hancock. Read more

Letter from the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty
National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty (April 3, 2012)
The National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty (NLCHP) is the legal arm of the national movement to end homelessness. We write to express our opposition to the proposed anti-camping ordinance currently under consideration by the Committee on Land Use, Transportation and Infrastructure, which would effectively ban outdoor sleeping throughout Denver. Read more

Letter from the Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation (INC)

Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation (April 15, 2012)

Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation (INC) is a city-wide network of more than 100 Registered Neighborhood Organizations. At its monthly delegate meeting on Saturday, April 14, INC Delegates asked Councilman Albus Brooks who is sponsoring the ordinance on “unauthorized camping” to delay a vote, scheduled for May 7, until INC holds a full public forum on May 12. Read more

Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition Board Statement on Denver's Camping Ban
Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition Board of Directors (April 19, 2012)
The Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition Board of Directors opposes the proposed “camping ban” and urges Denver Mayor Hancock and Denver City Council to reject this ordinance, re-assess the issues and possible solutions to the challenge of homelessness in Denver, and include the community in addressing this crisis effectively and compassionately. Read more

Letter from the Metropolitan Denver Homeless Initiative (MDHI)

Metropolitan Denver Homeless Initiative (April 16, 2012)

Our organization strongly opposes the proposed Urban Camping Ban on the grounds that criminalizing homelessness does not provide real or lasting solutions to ending homelessness. Our community lacks adequate emergency shelter and housing, as well as adequate health, mental health, and substance treatment services to meet the needs of those experiencing homelessness. Read more

Colorado Advocates Organize to Oppose Denver Camping Ban

National Low Income Housing Coalition (April 13, 2012)
Homeless and affordable housing advocates in Colorado are urging Denver city council members to withdraw a proposed ordinance that would ban unauthorized camping on public and private properties. The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless (CCH), an NLIHC state partner, leads the campaign, which also calls on lawmakers to develop a strategy to increase treatment services and permanent supportive and affordable housing. Read more

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DENVER CITY COUNCIL: PROPOSED CITY-WIDE ORDINANCE TO
PROHIBIT UNAUTHORIZED CAMPING —MEETING SCHEDULE

Download the Proposed "Camping Ban" Ordinance

Proposed schedule of meetings to discuss the ordinance:
Tuesday, April 3, 10:30 am – Land Use, Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, information item, Room 391, City and County Building 1437 Bannock St, Denver, Colorado 80202

Saturday, April 14 – Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation: Possible outreach at INC General Meeting

Tuesday, April 17, 1:30 pm – Health, Safety, Education & Services Committee, Room 391, City and County Building 1437 Bannock St, Denver, Colorado 80202

Thursday, April 19, 3:30 pm – Denver Homeless Commission, Parr-Widener Community Room, City and County Building 1437 Bannock St, Denver, Colorado 80202

Tuesday, April 24, 9:30 am – Mayor-Council Meeting, City Council will meet with the Mayor, Room 389, City and County Building 1437 Bannock St, Denver, Colorado, 80202

Tuesday, April 24, 10:30 am – Land Use, Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, action item and vote, Room 391, City and County Building 1437 Bannock St, Denver, Colorado, 80202

Monday, April 30, 5:30 pm – City Council: First reading with two-hour courtesy public hearing (speakers get 3 minutes; sign up at 5:15, first-come-first-served), City Council Chambers, Room 450, in the City and County Building 1437 Bannock St, Denver, Colorado 80202

Monday, May 14, 5:30 pm – City Council: Final consideration, City Council Chambers in the City and County Building 1437 Bannock St, Denver, Colorado 80202

Monday, May 15 – If passed, Mayor Hancock signs ordinance

Monday, May 15–Monday, May 28 – If passed, two-week outreach period

Tuesday, May 29 – If passed, implementation

TAKE ACTION , May 14

City Council Meeting
Monday, May 14, 5:30 pm
City Council: Final consideration, City Council Chambers in the City and County Building 1437 Bannock St, Denver, Colorado 80202

View the latest meeting details from Denver City Council: Denver City Council Meeting Calendar

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CONTACT INFORMATION:
Denver City Council 2012 and the Office of Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock

Take action. Tell Denver's City Council and Mayor Hancock not to make the experience of homelessness a criminal act.

Susan K. Shepherd
District 1
720-337-7701
susan.shepherd@denvergov.org

Jeanne Faatz

District 2

720-337-2222

jeanne.faatz@denvergov.org

Paul D. Lopez

District 3

720-337-3333

paul.lopez@denvergov.org

Peggy Lehmann

Council President Pro Tem – District 4

720-337-4444

peggy.lehmann@denvergov.org

Mary Beth Susman

District 5

720-337-5555

marybeth.susman@denvergov.org

Charlie Brown

District 6

720-337-6666

charlie.brown@denvergov.org

Chris Nevitt

Council President – District 7

720-337-7777

chris.nevitt@denvergov.org

Albus Brooks

District 8

720-337-8888

albus.brooks@denvergov.org

Judy H. Montero

District 9

720-337-7709

judy.montero@denvergov.org

Jeanne Robb

District 10

720-337-7710

jeanne.robb@denvergov.org

Christopher Herndon

District 11

720-337-7711

christopher.herndon@denvergov.org

Robin Kniech

City Council At-Large

720-337-7712

kniechatlarge@denvergov.org

Deborah (Debbie) Ortega

City Council At-Large

720-337-7713

deborah.ortega@denvergov.org

Office of Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock
720-865-9011
milehighmayor@denvergov.org

Janice Sinden
Chief of Staff to the Mayor
janice.sinden@denvergov.org

Evan Dreyer
Deputy Chief of Staff to the Mayor
evan.dreyer@denvergov.org

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RESOURCES & REPORTS

Searching out Solutions: Constructive Alternatives to the Criminalization of Homelessness

U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (April 2012)

Individuals and families experiencing street homelessness face many barriers on their path to stability. Over and above their housing, physical, and behavioral health needs, many communities implement local measures that criminalize “acts of living” laws that prohibit sleeping, eating, sitting, or panhandling in public spaces, acts which generally are applicable to people who do not have a permanent place to call home, and by their very nature criminalize homelessness. Read more

Housing First Works
Colorado Coalition for the Homeless (March 2012)

Housing First is a programmatic approach designed to help chronically homeless families and individuals move more quickly off the streets or out of the shelter system. Read more

Criminalizing Crisis: The Criminalization of Homelessness in U.S. Cities
National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty (November 2011)
Despite the fact that communities all over the country do not have adequate affordable housing or shelter space, cities are continuing to penalize people forced to live on our streets and in our public spaces. Read more

Criminalizing Crisis: Advocacy Manual
National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty (November 2011)
This advocacy manual is meant to be a resource for individuals working on the ground to combat criminalization in their communities. Read more

American Civil Liberties Union

National Coalition for the Homeless

National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty

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Last Updated: May 15, 2012

Colorado Coalition for the Homeless

WE NEED MORE HOUSING—NOT MORE HANDCUFFS

LETTERS & STATEMENTS

DENVER CITY COUNCIL: PROPOSED CITY-WIDE ORDINANCE TO PROHIBIT UNAUTHORIZED CAMPING —MEETING SCHEDULE

CONTACT INFORMATION: Denver City Council 2012 and the Office of Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock

RESOURCES & REPORTS

DENVER CITY COUNCIL: PROPOSED CITY-WIDE ORDINANCE TO
PROHIBIT UNAUTHORIZED CAMPING —MEETING SCHEDULE

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Denver City Council 2012 and the Office of Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock