'State of Emergency': Special Report on California’s Criminalization of Growing Homeless Encampments

In a Democracy Now! special report, we look at the rise in homelessness in many major cities across the United States. California has become the poster-child for this economic and humanitarian disaster, with growing encampments in Los Angeles and the Bay Area as more people are forced onto the streets. The state is home to 12% of the country’s population but half of the country’s unsheltered people. As the crisis deepens, so has the criminalization of homelessness, with increasing efforts by city and state officials to crack down on unhoused people occupying public space. President Donald Trump made headlines this month for attacking California’s politicians over the homelessness crisis, threatening to destroy encampments, increase police enforcement and even jail unhoused people. But advocates say California has already employed hostile policies that criminalize homelessness, from laws against unsheltered people sitting on sidewalks to frequent sweeps of the encampments that have popped up on thoroughfares and under freeways across the state’s cities. One of these crackdowns is currently unfolding at a massive Oakland encampment that Democracy Now! visited just a few weeks ago.

#DemocracyNow

FOLLOW DEMOCRACY NOW! ONLINE:

[irenenabizadeh]

While my fixed income is increased by $20 a month my landlord has increased my rent by $350! I cannot afford it, I have no money to pay for all the requirements to move into a new place (1st, last and security deposit), so you see it really doesn't take much to become homeless in this country. If not for the help from my children I would be homeless at 67 after having worked and paid taxes for over 25 years!

[preasail]

Thanks, Amy, for actually talking to the people who are never asked how they are.

[geekthegirl]

Where are these people supposed to go if not for these homes they've created themselves?? Out of sight, out of mind. It's a sin.

[chez]

The weather in CA, the ability to survive outside and not freeze to death, is why they flock here.

[pagelewis]

🤔 I'm perplexed that America can allocate so much money for wars be won't help the hungry Homeless. American Greed It's truly Saddening.

[DennisMoore]

All the building codes against tiny homes across the country are awful. It would solve at least some of the problem.

[alfonsoflores]

Looks like the future when the American money won't be worth noting, think about it ?

[amaryllish]

My heart aches while I’m watching this!😭😞

[kathys]

The Federal Poverty Guideline needs to be drastically raised.

[douglorimer]

I fight poverty and homelessness every day BY GOODNESS.

I GET UP AND GO TO WORK.

[madpatriot]

HAVE Lindsey draft a resolution to help the homeless asap

[BADDONE]

Our politicians are focused on immigrants. Legal or illegal. Your generation of citizenship should give you top priority. In hiring and housing. To help other nations people. You have to help yours first. There should be no incentives for immigrants to enter this nation.

[frog]

Less then 30 seconds in the video and she blames trump. Really stellar reporting. LOL

[tinafan]

one CEO makes enough money to share with a thousand homeless lets do it

[TheMobileNest]

This is absolutely disgusting!! Where are they supposed to go?

[jasontompkins]

Keep the borders wide open California! That will certainly help, sanctuary state right?

[vulvarine]

So where is Elon Musk building houses in hyperspeed?

[adamsmith]

These pictures look like somewhere in the “third world” or even post apocalyptic. Does America have no shame?

[lancelance]

Wow! That's something you see in 3rd World Countries. USA may eventually become a 3rd world country if this continues to expand.

Anita is right, the City needs to release public land for Tiny Homes as an immediate temporary solution. Otherwise, these encampments will grow and get worse.

[stevenwilliambaylessparks]

'The richest country in world', not morally speaking, of course.