Criminalizing Homelessness

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Recent County Raids on Houseless People Spawns Forming of Community Group
from North and South Humboldt


Recently, during record-hot weather in Southern Humboldt, the County Sheriff''s Department openly declared and began an aggressive attack , an "operation", criminalizing and displacing 'houseless' people who live outside in Redway and Garberville. People sleeping on private land, with permission from the owner, were arrested for trespass. People sleeping on public land, while no shelter exists in Southern Humboldt, were also arrested for trespass! The Sheriff's stopped people profiled as "homeless" who were walking in town, and questioned them, intimidated them, told them they if they returned to their sleeping places, they would be arrested. They also told these same people (in 100 degree weather) that they had 3 options: jail, the mental hospital, or leaving town. And the deputies confiscated their survival, medical, and personal gear.

In Northern Humboldt, a slightly more urban setting, there are no legal places for a person to sleep without paying money. Continuous harassment by police and city municipal codes attempt to prohibit particular people (wearing a backpack, looking houseless) from resting on public lands, from sitting in public places, and from having pets. The only "shelters" that exist are unavailable to most houseless people, and recently, a well-organized camp in Redwood Park was raided. Every night and day, people without shelter are criminalized for carrying out necessary life-sustaining conduct. Regularly the police confiscate, destroy, or hold onto peoples' survival gear, their humble and only possessions.

There is not enough housing or services for every homeless person in Humboldt, yet officials take the meanest approach possible, forcing people out into town and ordering them to keep moving or go to jail!

We can expect more veterans of war and victims of the mortgage crisis to be a rapidly increasing part of the houseless population.

Last year, local group PEOPLE PROJECT, through an organized encampment protest on "public" land, exposed for many, the current conditions and policies inflicted against people without conventional shelter. The City of Arcata and Arcata Police, in conjunction with the Sheriff'sDept., the District Attorney's Office, and 5 other police agencies, led an unnecessary raid on the encampment protest after a long night of heavy rain. The encampment was providing otherwise safe rest for 55 people of all ages.

There is not enough low-income housing in any town of Humboldt County (or in any community). There is little to no shelter space, and no campground exists where people can safely sleep without harassment from police. And the policies of cruelty, which attempt to disappear many people in our communities, perpetuate civilian violence against such vulnerable people who, without housing, must survive in full sight of the public. Youth are taught, through shameful example, to treat houseless people inhumanely and speak to them without decency or respect. Meanwhile, rampant prejudice spreads and excessive tax dollars are wasted on 'zero tolerance policing' as business people, parents, politicians, and police blame houseless folks for every local problem, from riverside garbage (i.e. dumped refrigerators) to teenage drug addiction!


We are four active women in the community, from Northern and Southern Humboldt, who have been documenting abuses against houseless people and speaking with various folks about the increasingly oppressive climate. Our core group has many years of experience and knowledge regarding local laws, county history, police activity, gentrification, and most importantly, the houseless 'experience' in Humboldt County. We invite others to meet and discuss future plans concerning ongoing raids on public and private lands that are displacing community members. We are also seeking Civil and Human Rights attorneys to join our efforts.

We recognize that the County has been criminalizing and displacing, not only houseless folks, but also poor people living on private rural properties ("code enforcement" victims) and Indian reservations, in addition to undocumented immigrants. Thus, we welcome discussion that acknowledges the intersections of these situations and the need to address all actions which target the most vulnerable people in our communities.

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Commentary by Prudence Whitemore below

Since when has it been a crime to be homeless? Since the 'image' of America has become more important then the freedoms, lives and dreams of any single person. The lack of concern or caring on the part of the police and officialdom of the now 'useless' eaters is criminal on their part, for they are discriminating against a group of people that clearly now have lost everything they own or have owned and their very subsistance has narrowed down to basic survival. Once again, for those who see this and for those who have been forced into this situation, it is so clear in our society, that if you are not suupporting the system anymore, then you are not needed, nor wanted. Many of these people used to have homes, families and careers, but for one reason or another, their lives are turned upside down and their hope of a future, let alone a warm bed and a meal has fanished. It is said, that a society is judged by how it treats even the lowest ones, and if that is so, then our society is earning a judgement by the very highest authority, the creator, and we/it will certainly reap what we have sown, and what we have allowed.

I say to the authorities in Humboldt county and in all the states of America and the cities, some of whom are making it against the law to feed the homeless, shame on your, the degredation of our society is not from 'them' but from yourselves, for you have cut yourself off from humanity, from compassion, from caring for all, let alone from love.

It disturbs me that anyone is treated so dispassionately to even 'steal' the few belongings that they carry with them, for that is pure and simple, not even just theft but in some cases lead to illness and death, and the ones doing that should have to face charges and trials before a jury of homeless people for their judgement.

This is not the American values that I was taught, growing up, that most of us were taught that America is all about, this is true corruption of any moral system of values and we will all rue this day. Those that see it happening and do nothing to stop this, may someday be faced with the same persecutions, and then, they will understand...too late!