1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I need you to publicly condemn Louisiana's criminalization of homelessness and work to prevent similar laws from spreading to other states. What Louisiana is doing sets a dangerous precedent that punishes people for their poverty. Arresting people for sleeping outside when they have nowhere else to go doesn't solve homelessness. It makes it worse. Criminal records make it nearly impossible to find housing or employment, trapping people in a cycle they can't escape. Jail costs taxpayers far more than actual solutions like emergency shelters and supportive housing. This approach is both cruel and ineffective. People experiencing homelessness need access to mental health services, addiction treatment, and affordable housing, not handcuffs. Criminalization pushes them further into the margins and away from the services that could actually help them rebuild their lives. Use your platform to call out Louisiana's policy for what it is: an attack on the most vulnerable. Then introduce or support federal legislation that prohibits states from criminalizing homelessness and instead incentivizes investment in proven solutions. We need leadership that addresses the root causes of homelessness, not policies that sweep it under the rug.