I am writing today to ask you to remain vigilant, focused and committed to our mission.
On Thursday, July 24, President Trump issued an executive order entitled “Ending Crime and Disorder on America’s Streets.” This executive order is an attack on our nation’s long-standing commitment to an evidence-based approach to ending homelessness. The order criminalizes homelessness, calls for forced institutionalization of people with mental health issues, and calls on agencies receiving federal funding to collect personal health-related data to be shared with federal agencies, in violation of the right to privacy.
Our colleagues at the National Alliance to End Homelessness have released a statement, which I encourage you to read. It lays out in clear language how this executive order will harm our neighbors who are experiencing homelessness, and how it goes against the evidence-based best practices of a Housing First approach.
The demands of this executive order will further demonize people experiencing homelessness without offering any real solutions. Nothing in this executive order addresses the underlying causes of homelessness or does anything to address the profound lack of affordable housing.
We know from our own experience here in Chicago how easy it is to treat people experiencing homelessness as less than human — as criminals or a threat.
We also know from experience how essential it is for those who believe in our mission to speak out where they can, to educate our community on the realities underlying homelessness, and to model empathy for those experiencing homelessness.
It seems as though I have sent too many emails of this sort in the last six months, but now more than ever your support is critical to our work.
Carolyn K. Ross, President & CEO, All Chicago Making Homelessness History