Housekeys Not Sweeps Campaign

Thirty-seven years after the advent of contemporary homelessness, it is time this country realize that we will not disappear nor cease to exist. We are demanding our rights and fighting like hell for ALL people (housed & unhoused) to be treated with the dignity and respect all people deserve.

Slide

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW AND HOUSE KEYS SWEEPS CAMPAIGN ORIENTATION

Learn More

Slide

HOUSE KEYS NOT SWEEPS – WRAP POSITION PAPER ON SANCTIONED ENCAMPMENTS AND CRIMINALIZATION

Learn More

Slide

DEMANDS & GOALS

Houseless people often live in communities or “encampments” for their safety and well being.

Learn More

Slide

HOUSE KEYS NOT SWEEPS FACT SHEET

The forced disbanding of homeless communities and removal of homeless individuals from an area.

Learn More

Houseless people often live in communities or “encampments” for their safety and well being. Belongings and community are necessary for survival, but private and public agencies have deemed both these things illegal and are aggressively and violently policing, sweeping, harassing and attacking our houseless neighbors. They are evicted from their encampments and their life preserving belongings are repeatedly stolen.

These cruel and unnecessary acts are an extraordinary waste of resources and cause serious harm. Clearly our governments are not choosing the real solutions to homelessness– human rights, livable incomes, healthcare, jobs, or a reinstatement of federal affordable housing funding. 

Conceal, Criminalize, Capitalize: How government sanctioned tent cities promote the criminalization of homelessness under the guise of service

The Systemic Justice Project—a policy innovation group created by Harvard Law School students—worked with local organizers to create Know Your Rights pamphlets for all ten of the communities banded together in the Stop the Sweeps campaign.