Safe streets for whom : an in-depth look at the harms associated with the Safe Streets Act

Abstract

Homelessness is a problem that exists in every city around the world. Citizens want this problem to go away, but instead the homeless population continues to grow. The laws that are put in place in cities are supposed to help citizens – most times they do, but people living in poverty rarely receive the help they need, instead undergoing harm. This thesis examines the Safe Streets Act and the harms that laws can bring to people experiencing homelessness or poverty. This study analyzed literature that looked at the components of the Safe Streets Act, as well as the harms that can come from the Act or similar laws. Two face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with personnel who work with people experiencing homeless, both in different capacities. Results were gathered by looking at four different themes that appeared frequently throughout the literature, as well as in the interviews. Based on the research, the study concludes that my results agree with existing literature on the harms of laws.