Good morning,
1.  Thanks to Gerrit for the update on the Stability Site:
The plan for the Stability Site is to transition to 58 units by April 1st. We’ll begin the site reduction on January 1st, and with typical exits be at the 58 unit target by April 1st.

2.  Martin v. Boise Links - you can Google and find many more but here are a few to begin:
The National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty
https://nlchp.org/homeless-persons-cannot-be-punished-for-sleeping-in-absence-of-alternatives-9th-circuit-decision-establishes/
Last September, a panel of the Ninth Circuit agreed with the central premise in the suit, holding that “as long as there is no option of sleeping indoors, the government cannot criminalize indigent, homeless people for sleeping outdoors, on public property, on the false premise they had a choice in the matter.” Following that ruling, the city of Boise petitioned the Ninth Circuit to rehear the case en banc. Today, the court rejected that request, thereby affirming that within the western states that make up the Ninth Circuit, “the Eighth Amendment preclude[s] the enforcement of a statute prohibiting sleeping outside against homeless individuals with no access to alternative shelter.”

A recent court settlement in Orange County, California, was made possible by a member of the HNH Justice Network, Carol Sobel. The settlement not only provided assistance to the in-need people Sobel was representing, but helped establish clearer guidance for what the 9th Circuit ruling in Martin v. Boise means in practice.

Initially, the case was brought to stop the eviction of an 800-person encampment, a group which was able to be brought into shelter and housing through the efforts involved in their defense. To prevent the recurrence of events like the eviction that started off the case, this settlement was developed and in part influenced by the Law Center’s case in Martin and our amicus submission. Under the settlement, not only must adequate shelter space must be provided before any anti-camping laws are enforced, but people experiencing homelessness must be allowed to consult with county health care, social workers or county-contracted service providers as well.

http://nlchp.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/2019-Forum-Report-FINAL.pdf

The National Forum on the Human right to Housing.  The Forum’s focus was on how to build on the Martin v. Boise decision which states communities cannot criminalize basic acts of survival like sleeping and self-sheltering in the absence of adequate alternatives. 

MRSC - the Municipal Research and Services Center of Washington - this nonprofit works with local governments.  Their on-line information, including their Homelessness and Housing Tool Kit for Cities is free.  http://mrsc.org/Home/Stay-Informed/MRSC-Insight/October-2019/An-Updated-Homelessness-Housing-Toolkit.aspx Their trainings have a modest fee.

http://mrsc.org/Home/Stay-Informed/MRSC-Insight/June-2019/Homelessness-and-the-Limits-of-Enforcement.aspx

Note:  This article pre-dates the recent Orange County ruling above.  

http://mrsc.org/Home/Training/Upcoming-Webinars/Local-Governments-and-Homelessness-Webinar-2019.aspx

Nov. 14 webinar - What Local Governments are Doing to Address Homelessness - register by Nov. 13

The US Supreme Court - this is the link to track all filings and status of the City of Boise v Martin.  The Supreme Court has not made any decision about hearing the case.
Issue: Whether the enforcement of generally applicable laws regulating public camping and sleeping constitutes “cruel and unusual punishment” prohibited by the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution.

As always, thank you for your work,
Maureen 


MaureenHowardConsulting
maureenhowardconsulting@gmail.com

Tel:  253-756-8146 (LL)
Cell:  253-255-2200
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