1. The “Model Legislation” Strategy
Instead of lobbying city by city, the Cicero Institute writes ‘template’ bills. One example is the ‘Reducing Street Homelessness Act’. They then hand them to state legislators. This allows them to pass nearly identical laws across multiple states (such as Texas, Florida, Georgia, and Missouri) very quickly.
Key Components of the Cicero Model:
- Statewide Camping Bans: Sleeping or camping on public property becomes a crime. It is often classified as a misdemeanor but can be a felony in some versions, like Tennessee’s.
- Sanctioned Encampments: The law authorizes the creation of “state-sanctioned” camping areas. These are often designated lots away from city centers where people need to stay if they have no other shelter.
- Penalties for Local Governments: If a city or police department refuses to enforce the camping ban, the state can initiate legal proceedings. The state can take action against them. Alternatively, the state can strip them of public funding.
2. Why Critics Call Them “Jail-Like Areas”
The “sanctioned camps” proposed by the Institute differ significantly from traditional homeless shelters or “Housing First” programs in several ways that mirror correctional facilities:
- Forced Placement: Under these laws, law enforcement often has significant power. They can give unhoused people a choice: move to the sanctioned camp or go to jail.
- Surveillance and Registration: Many Cicero-backed bills require these camps to maintain a strict registry of all residents. They must assign specific sub-lots or parking spots. These camps also need to implement 24/7 security or police presence.
- Behavioral Requirements: Unlike “Housing First” models, these camps often require participation in mental health programs. They may also mandate substance abuse programs as a condition of staying there. Failure to comply can lead to “traditional criminal justice sanctions” (arrest).
- Involuntary Commitment: The Institute advocates for lowering the legal threshold for civil commitment. This change would make it easier for the state to force individuals into psychiatric institutions. This applies if they refuse the sanctioned camps.
3. Financial Shift: Defunding “Housing First”
A critical part of the Cicero strategy is moving money. Their model legislation often explicitly redirects state and federal funding away from Permanent Supportive Housing (which provides a home first and then offers services) and toward:
- Short-term emergency shelters.
- State-run parking lot encampments.
- Law enforcement outreach teams.