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Homelessness

Vox reports on the state of homelessness in the US and around the world by exploring the latest news and research, key policy areas, and legal developments.

Podcasts
America’s other populist, socialist big-city mayorAmerica’s other populist, socialist big-city mayor
Podcast
Podcasts

What Katie Wilson thinks national Democrats should learn from her win.

By Miles Bryan and Astead Herndon
Policy
Churches want to build affordable housing. Why are cities stopping them?Churches want to build affordable housing. Why are cities stopping them?
Policy

Where the “Yes in God’s Backyard” movement goes next.

By Rachel Cohen Booth
Homelessness
Cities are trying a new approach to clearing homeless tent encampmentsCities are trying a new approach to clearing homeless tent encampments
Homelessness

Advocates are banking on a new use for federal housing vouchers.

By Rachel Cohen Booth
Homelessness
The invisible homeless crisis that official statistics missThe invisible homeless crisis that official statistics miss
Homelessness

Working full time and homeless in America.

By Rachel Cohen Booth
Homelessness
Trump is on track to ditch a time-tested approach to combating homelessnessTrump is on track to ditch a time-tested approach to combating homelessness
Homelessness

The Project 2025 plan called to end “housing-first” policies.

By Rachel Cohen Booth
The Highlight
LA thinks AI could help decide which homeless people get scarce housing — and which don’tLA thinks AI could help decide which homeless people get scarce housing — and which don’t
The Highlight

Without enough houses for its growing homeless population, the city is using machine learning to make its process fairer.

By Carly Stern
2024 Elections
Arizona’s unprecedented crackdown on homeless encampmentsArizona’s unprecedented crackdown on homeless encampments
2024 Elections

Voters this week approved a first-of-its-kind measure to pay property owners if cities don’t address camps.

By Rachel Cohen Booth
Housing
What if cities finally legalized adult dorms?What if cities finally legalized adult dorms?
Housing

Experts think they’ve cracked the code for how to actually convert empty office buildings into affordable housing.

By Rachel Cohen Booth
Policy
Florida criminalized homelessness. Then came hurricanes Helene and Milton.Florida criminalized homelessness. Then came hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Policy

Around the country, anti-camping policies are complicating disaster recovery.

By Rachel Cohen Booth
Homelessness
What a big new Supreme Court decision could mean for homeless AmericansWhat a big new Supreme Court decision could mean for homeless Americans
Homelessness

The Grants Pass v. Johnson decision does not spell the end to fights over tent encampments in America.

By Rachel Cohen Booth
Housing
A new strategy to house homeless peopleA new strategy to house homeless people
Housing

To clear tent encampments in cities, some leaders urge a focus beyond shelters.

By Rachel Cohen Booth
Supreme Court
The Supreme Court doesn’t seem eager to get involved with homelessness policyThe Supreme Court doesn’t seem eager to get involved with homelessness policy
Supreme Court

Grants Pass v. Johnson is probably going to end badly for homeless people, but it’s not yet clear how broad the Court’s decision will be.

By Ian Millhiser
Supreme Court
What the Supreme Court case on tent encampments could mean for homeless peopleWhat the Supreme Court case on tent encampments could mean for homeless people
Supreme Court

This week, the justices will hear the biggest case on homelessness in decades.

By Rachel Cohen Booth
Supreme Court
The Supreme Court case that could turn homelessness into a crime, explainedThe Supreme Court case that could turn homelessness into a crime, explained
Supreme Court

Grants Pass v. Johnson could make the entire criminal justice system far crueler. It also tests the limits of judicial power.

By Ian Millhiser
Supreme Court
The Supreme Court will decide what cities can do about tent encampmentsThe Supreme Court will decide what cities can do about tent encampments
Supreme Court

An Oregon case will clarify whether officials can jail or fine homeless people for sleeping outside.

By Rachel Cohen Booth
Mental Health
Why treatment for severe mental illness looks radically different for rich and poor peopleWhy treatment for severe mental illness looks radically different for rich and poor people
Mental Health

And a new way to understand cities’ response to tent encampments.

By Rachel Cohen Booth
The big bet on “tiny homes” to fix homelessness
Homelessness

How the small structures have ignited hopes and fears for those living outside.

By Rachel Cohen Booth
Homelessness
Cities are asking the Supreme Court for more power to clear homeless encampmentsCities are asking the Supreme Court for more power to clear homeless encampments
Homelessness

A decision five years ago transformed homelessness policy. Now the justices could overrule it.

By Rachel Cohen Booth
Policy
Some homeless people won’t go to shelters. Should they be left outside?Some homeless people won’t go to shelters. Should they be left outside?
Policy

If a city can’t provide desirable housing, some advocates urge leaving people in tent encampments alone.

By Rachel Cohen Booth