Encampment sweeps have become an all-too-common response to unsheltered homelessness in many communities. Unfortunately, these forcible removals are rarely accompanied by permanent housing and only serve to destabilize people, disconnect them from housing and services, and do nothing to solve homelessness. This Learning Lab will feature updates on the status of encampment sweeps (and other criminalization measures) and USICH’s All INside initiative, as well as new CDC research on the healthcare needs of unsheltered people living in encampments. A new NHCHC policy brief will also be discussed, which provides examples of communities taking interim strategies that better support unsheltered people. Finally, a moderated discussion will identify the action steps needed to move communities forward in constructively responding to encampments.
Speakers: Bobby Watts, CEO, National Health Care for the Homeless Council; Barbara DiPietro, PhD, Senior Director of Policy, National Health Care for the Homeless Council; Will Knight, Decriminalization Director, National Homelessness Law Center; Jeff Olivet, Executive Director, USICH; Kent Forde, Federal Team lead in Phoenix, All INside initiative; Tamara Wright, Senior Regional Advisor, USICH/Phoenix team; Caroline Waddell, PhD, Centers for Disease Control; Jessica Sherman, PhD, MSN, FNP-BC, RN, Centers for Disease Control
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