We define ourselves by who we are and how we treat others, not by what we look like or what’s in our wallets.

But today, certain Tacoma politicians fuel media narratives to try to make us fear those turning to cars and tents for shelter, while they make it impossible for many of us to afford any place to live. They try to label everyone without a home a criminal by making homelessness itself a crime.

The Tacoma City Council is voting on banning anyone without a home from sleeping in a place of their choosing near services. By banning camping within a mile of shelters, the city would be banning people experiencing homelessness from the majority of the city, and especially from the areas that have the services they need to get out of homelessness.

That’s why we’re coming together to tell the City Council to reject this harmful and wasteful approach!