Human rights attorney working to bring human rights home to the U.S. Views expressed are my own.
Joined September 2018
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CA should make sure #HousingIsAHumanRight for all its residents. Rather than a race to the bottom to see who can make the streets the most threatening, let's see what a race to the top looks like. Thanks @latCarlaHall @latimes! #HousingNotHandcuffs! latimes.com/opinion/story/20…
Eric Tars retweeted
The only answer to being asked if you support forcing homeless people into gov't run detention camps is "no"
Yet that is not the answer that Trump's nominee to lead HUD gave @TinaSmithMN.
Link below to take action to stop his nomination.
Eric Tars retweeted
Bipartisan vibe deteriorating around HUD nominee Scott Turner. Sen. Smith (D-Minn.) is a "no" on floor vote, according to a person familiar.
Smith was on the fence and had a good meeting w/ Turner. But she was not happy with his written response to Qs, esp on homelessness >>>
Eric Tars retweeted
Read our full statement on today's historic lawsuit.
@ericadamsfornyc must stop the sweeps and focus on housing, not handcuffs.
A huge shoutout to @homeless_law's own @SiyaHegde and the entire @SafetyNetUJC team!
BREAKING: We’re suing the Eric Adams admin @NYCMayor to end the City’s cruel and unlawful homeless sweeps.
The only way to reduce homelessness and increase public safety is to ensure all people are safely housed. Full statement: homelesslaw.org/adamslawsuit…
Eric Tars retweeted
10/29: Join us, national partners and responders to learn about how natural disasters affect homeless and housing-insecure communities. We'll discuss federal resources, the rise in homelessness criminalization in the Southeast, and more.
Register today: loom.ly/7Wt55l4
“It’s like dying slowly in front of people."
💔reporting from @annaleapatrick @seattletimes as @auburn_wa removes its protections from its anti-camping law, so it can be enforced regardless of the availability of shelter.
#HousingNotHandcuffs
seattletimes.com/seattle-new…
Eric Tars retweeted
Today, NHLC Senior Policy Director @EricTars testified before the Philadelphia City Council in support of @KendraPHL resolution condemning the #JohnsonVGrantsPass ruling.
"Focus on #HousingNotHandcuffs; #ServicesNotSweeps as the proven solutions to homelessness."
Eric Tars retweeted
How can we solve homelessness?
"This admin must redirect funds and resources from carceral responses and prioritize access to affordable, safe, inclusive housing with compassionate voluntary support services." -@SiyaHegde NHLC Attorney testifying at the White House yesterday.
Did any of the $155M in police overtime help end anyone’s homelessness? If we had spent that on housing, not handcuffs, wouldn’t we all be safer? More law enforcement does not equal public safety, but meeting everyone’s basic needs does!
What happens when you make a cop mayor of NYC?
Police overtime goes from $4 million in 2022 to $155 million now.
gothamist.com/news/nypd-over…
Eric Tars retweeted
Today,@AOC and @SenTinaSmith introduced the #HomesAct, a bold new plan to build millions of homes for the public good -- instead of real estate industry profits.
Our coalition stood with them to launch this new leg, based our own NY Social Housing Development Authority bill!
BREAKING: @AOC and @SenTinaSmith are now introducing the Homes Act to build public housing and affordable housing across America.
The bill would establish a new development authority to finance and build homes.
Rent in these homes would be capped at 25% of household income. 🧵
Eric Tars retweeted
This is what cops do to staff at homeless shelters, imagine what they do to homeless ppl when nobody is watching. But we don't have to imagine, we already know. It's awful, and it makes homelessness worse.
Recent SCOTUS ruling will make this MUCH worse, esp for Black ppl & POC
Des Moines says fines for sleeping in public areas will help fight homelessness? Prove it.
Fantastic editorial from @DMRegister. #HousingNotHandcuffs ends homelessness.
desmoinesregister.com/story/…
Grants Pass showing how cruel and unusual they can be following the #SCOTUS' #JohnsonvGrantsPass decision. Heartbreaking for the people in Grants Pass, a warning to the rest of the country. None of this helps end homelessness. #HousingNotHandcuffs does. streetroots.org/news/2024/09…
We @homeless_law are proud to join this letter to @Cal_ICH together w/@ACLUSoCal @sdicACLU @CSHInfo @Western_Center @InnerCityLaw @thepilp & Elder Law & Disability Rights Center. Cal ICH must stand against the racist, ablist impacts of @GavinNewsom's EO. aclusocal.org/sites/default/…
"Encampment resolution is a coordinated, multi-system strategy to address the impacts... & connect..residents to housing. This...differs from displacement strategies that force encampment residents to move w/o connecting them to housing and support (‘sweeps’)."
🔥🔥🔥
Eric Tars retweeted
“It makes you feel hunted, you know, like a fugitive,” Jones says of local laws that criminalize sleeping in public spaces. “It’s hard for me to get across just how counterproductive these sweeps are.” #HousingNotHandcuffs
READ: loom.ly/vrH5CgA
Eric Tars retweeted
Tomorrow! Join PPP and NHLC for a discussion of how organizers and advocates can move forward after the SCOTUS decision in Grants Pass. PPP is proud to stand with the lawyers and organizers working to ensure human rights and dignity for all. Register here! peoplesparity.org/event/nhlc…
ALT Event flyer. Images of Siya Hedge and Eric Tars. Text reads "Wednesday, 8/14 at 12:00 pm. Pro-people lawyering series: fighting homelessness after Grants Pass. Siya Hedge: staff attorney, housing not handcuffs, National Homelessness Law Center. Eric Tars: senior policy director, National Homelessness Law Center. In Grants Pass v. Johnson, the US Supreme Court held that ordinances allowing for fines, destruction of property, and imprisonment for sleeping outside, even when no shelter is available, are not unconstitutional. To push back on the criminalization of homelessness, robust legal and organizing strategies are needed to ensure the human rights of all people. Join PPP and the National Homelessness Law Center for a discussion on the impact of Grants Pass and steps that lawyers and law students can take to fight back."
Eric Tars retweeted
“Arresting, fining people, and impounding their vehicles for trying to survive is expensive, counterproductive, and cruel,” says @EricTars, senior policy director for the Law Center. #HousingNotHandcuffs
Read more: loom.ly/q7V_tc0
Sharing this excellent reporting on what actually is required at the Grants Pass Gospel Rescue Mission. #johnsonvgrantspass #housingnothandcuffs
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Eric Tars retweeted
STATEMENT: @GavinNewsom rejects *proven* housing & services solutions to bust encampments!
This is a direct consequence of the #SCOTUS decision that ruled people who cannot afford a place to live and have no shelter options can be thrown in jail! SHAME!
vocal-ny.com/rcl59gf
