Helping People Gain Power

New research from Grassroots Leadership and Gathering Ground Theater shows there are many people like Gary who are experiencing homelessness and repeatedly ticketed by police, resulting in unhealthy, unsustainable situations

AUSTIN — Gary Bowens has been repeatedly ticketed for having no place to go. Like many people in Austin experiencing homelessness, Gary is subject to regular police enforcement of the local “No Camping” ordinance, which criminalizes people for storing personal belongings in public areas, sleeping in a vehicle, or otherwise appearing to be living in public.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently found in Martin v. City of Boise that a similar law in Boise, ID, was in violation of the U.S. Constitution’s 8th amendment prohibitions on cruel and unusual punishment because, “It imposes criminal sanctions against homeless individuals for sleeping outdoors, on public property, when no alternative shelter is available to them...”

A new report by Gathering Ground Theater and Grassroots Leadership shows how widespread the problem is in Austin. Unfortunately, Gary’s story is not unique. Among other findings, this new research shows that people experiencing homelessness in downtown experience a high level of criminalization. Read more about Unconstitutional? Austin ordinance that criminalizes people experiencing homelessness goes on trial Friday