• Interactive map: Number of U.S. cities criminalizing homelessness surges

    Interactive map: Number of U.S. cities criminalizing homelessness surges

    Dec 13, 2015 06:30 PM EDT

    Across the country, advocates say a growing number of cities have been criminalizing homelessness. According to a 2014 survey of 187 cities by the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, the number of cities with municipal bans on camping or sleeping outside has increased 50 percent since 2011. The ...

  • LA, NYC mayors announce new programs to tackle rising number of homelessness

    LA, NYC mayors announce new programs to tackle rising number of homelessness

    Nov 18, 2015 11:21 PM EDT

    ... pay about 30 percent of their income or monthly support in return. The mayor reassures that between private funding and budgets already allocated to tackling homelessness, the plan is largely already paid for. These plans come in response to a mounting homelessness problem in New York City and Los Angeles ...

  • No image

    Homelessness among school children on the rise

    Sep 22, 2014 09:34 PM EDT

    WASHINGTON — The number of homeless school children is rising in U.S. schools. Education Department statistics released Monday say 1.3 million homeless children were enrolled in U.S. schools in the 2012-2013 school year — an 8 percent increase from the previous school year.

  • Twitter Chat: Should homelessness be a crime?

    Twitter Chat: Should homelessness be a crime?

    Jul 24, 2014 09:50 PM EDT

    ... cost cities more than providing shelter. It also states that “criminal convictions -- even for minor crimes -- can create barriers to obtaining critical public benefits ... making homelessness more difficult to escape.” Are laws against loitering, sitting and sleeping in public ethical? What can U.S. cities do to end chronic homelessness ...

  • More cities across the U.S. consider homelessness a crime

    More cities across the U.S. consider homelessness a crime

    Jul 19, 2014 06:41 PM EDT

    ... prevent people from living on the streets. "The federal government should play a leadership role in combating the criminalization of homelessness by local governments and promote constructive alternatives," the report said. Editor's note: The lead of this piece was updated to more accurately reflect the current state of homelessness.

  • No image

    Denver's Elaborate Plan to End Homelessness Sees Big Successes

    Dec 22, 2010 11:34 PM EDT

    ... happening in this community that we need to do. AMBER CALLENDER: What are your questions about it?We probably have all levels of knowledge around homelessness and poverty. TOM BEARDEN: Benero and Callender have hosted leaders from several other cities who want to duplicate the program, which has been called ...

  • No image

    San Francisco Program Combats Homelessness with Innovation

    Apr 08, 2005 04:00 AM EDT

    ... Francisco as a laboratory where new ideas are starting to pay off. PHILIP MANGANO: San Francisco has the potential of being the tipping point of homelessness in our country. When people see a change on the streets of San Francisco, they'll understand that change on homelessness is possible anywhere ...

  • Mamdani hits 100 days as mayor of New York City

    Mamdani hits 100 days as mayor of New York City

    Apr 10, 2026 07:31 PM EDT

    ... Fallon” was seen by some as insensitive at a moment when the death toll of homeless New Yorkers was rapidly rising. “Too much styling and profiling,” said Curtis Sliwa, a Republican who ran against Mamdani during last year's election, noting longstanding problems with street homelessness, public housing and infrastructure.

  • Georgia lawmakers pass bill that lets property owners sue over homeless encampments

    Georgia lawmakers pass bill that lets property owners sue over homeless encampments

    Apr 03, 2026 11:31 PM EDT

    ... given night. Justin Kirnon, who works for the city of Atlanta, said at a committee meeting that the city has made major strides in reducing homelessness, and those from outside the city often go there because of the resources the city has. But homelessness is not an “issue that you ...

  • The Senate has passed a major housing reform bill. Here are 3 ways it could have a 'big impact'

    The Senate has passed a major housing reform bill. Here are 3 ways it could have a 'big impact'

    Apr 02, 2026 07:47 PM EDT

    “For many areas, given the severe, pre-existing lack of affordable housing in these areas and the nature of where disasters tend to strike, you see significant increases in homelessness,” he added. On top of that, each community is its own market, and a disaster in one community simultaneously ...