Shelter, Not Penalties Act

Washington state is experiencing a fundamental failure of housing policy. Homelessness and evictions continue to rise to unprecedented levels. Tens of thousands of Washingtonians — families, workers, veterans, and young people — have been displaced or are at risk of displacement due to skyrocketing costs and an ongoing severe shortage of affordable housing. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development estimates that at least 28,000 people in Washington experienced homelessness in 2023. Yet instead of a coordinated, statewide response, cities have developed a confusing patchwork of local laws that criminalize homelessness and punish people for being poor. These laws displace people from community to community, wasting public dollars, and deepening human suffering. Criminalization is fundamentally harmful and unjust. Public safety does not require policing or displacement; housing and care create safety. This new bill will establish a clear and consistent statewide standard: Local governments may not adopt or enforce ordinances that criminalize, penalize, or otherwise prohibit people from engaging in life-sustaining activities on public property unless it can demonstrate that adequate alternative shelter space is available. (via ACLU-WA)