President Trump’s latest executive order on homelessness is more than just bad policy, it’s a direct attack on the most vulnerable people in our communities. Framed as a way to “clean up” cities and address addiction, the order actually makes it easier for states and cities to forcibly remove homeless encampments, involuntarily commit people to mental health or addiction facilities, and punish those simply for existing without a home.
What’s in the Order, and Why It’s Harmful
The order (which you can learn more about here) calls for:
- Easier removal of homeless encampments and bans on urban camping
- Involuntary civil commitment for people deemed “a risk to themselves or others”
- Defunding harm reduction programs like needle exchanges that save lives by preventing overdoses and disease spread
- Prioritizing funding for sobriety-first programs over Housing First, a proven approach that gets people into safe housing before addressing treatment
For decades, bipartisan policy recognized that housing is the foundation for recovery and stability. But this order reverses that, tying help to conditions that many unhoused people simply cannot meet right away.
Who This Hurts Most
This executive order disproportionately impacts:
- People with untreated mental illness who may now face involuntary institutionalization instead of voluntary, supportive care
- People with substance use disorders who will lose access to harm reduction programs proven to save lives
- LGBTQ youth, women fleeing violence, and other marginalized groups who are over-represented in the homeless population and already face heightened risks of violence and discrimination
- Communities of color who are more likely to experience homelessness due to systemic inequality, and more likely to face punitive policing
Instead of addressing the root causes, like the shortage of affordable housing and lack of accessible healthcare, this approach criminalizes poverty and pushes people further to the margins.
How You Can Fight Back
We can’t let punitive policies replace compassion and evidence-based solutions. Here are ways you can take action:
- Contact your representatives: Demand they publicly oppose the order and protect Housing First funding
- Support local advocacy organizations: Groups like the National Homelessness Law Center and the National Alliance to End Homelessness are fighting this in court and in communities
- Donate to harm reduction programs: Many will lose federal funding and need grassroots support to keep saving lives
- Speak up locally: Attend city council meetings, write letters to local media, and push back against camping bans
- Vote in every election: Local, state, and federal, because homelessness policy is shaped at every level
We’ve seen what works: stable housing, voluntary treatment, and harm reduction save lives. Rolling those back is not only cruel, it’s dangerous. This executive order isn’t about safety, it’s about sweeping poverty out of sight. And we can’t allow that to happen.
