States Enact New Laws to Combat Rising Street Homelessness Crisis

In recent years, a surge in legislation aimed at addressing street homelessness has emerged across the United States, particularly following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Grants Pass v. Johnson. This ruling has allowed for the enforcement of public camping bans, compelling over 350 cities and 14 states to implement various legal measures to confront this complex issue.

Legislative Actions on Homelessness

States have taken significant steps to combat street homelessness, introducing measures such as camping bans on public land and mandating local governments to enforce these restrictions. In certain jurisdictions, property owners are now empowered to sue local governments for failure to comply with statewide camping ban enforcement. The National Homelessness Law Center has documented these changes, highlighting the diversity in how states are tackling the issue.

Specific State Responses

Louisiana has taken a notable approach by criminalizing unauthorized public camping and establishing a Homelessness Court program, which offers treatment alternatives instead of jail time for those affected. Similarly, Indiana’s new law will prohibit unauthorized camping on public land beginning in July. In Georgia and Oklahoma, the introduction of Safe Neighborhood laws allows property owners to seek compensation if local governments do not enforce laws against unauthorized camping. Many of these legislative measures draw on models provided by conservative think tanks like the Cicero Institute and the Goldwater Institute.

Current Trends in Homelessness

Despite these intensified legislative actions, the federal count indicates a rise in homelessness across 28 states, as reflected in data collected in January 2025, even though there was a slight decrease in overall homeless individuals counted compared to the previous year. This data raises questions about the effectiveness of the new laws in addressing the underlying issues of homelessness.