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Paper Presentation

Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice

Session: A pathway from instability to stability: Prevention and decriminalization of homelessness

Safe Parking and Intersectional Adversity: Addressing the Decriminalization Homelessness

The criminalization of homelessness adds a traumatic layer of disadvantage for people sheltering in their vehicles, most of who have experienced intersectional discrimination, including obstacles to obtaining and maintaining housing related to physical and mental disabilities. Safe parking lots are a harm-reduction approach and resource for those marginalized by homelessness.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, attendees should be able to:
  1. understand the nuanced experience of homelessness and disability as an intersectional obstacle which requires cultural sensitivity and tailored approaches to address multilayered complexities
  2. analyze a harm-reduction approach and recommendations made by participants to improve the approach, which incorporates community-engagement to address the challenge of the criminalization of homelessness.
  3. apply knowledge gained related to homelessness and social work policy that further implicates people sheltering in their vehicles due to systematic oppression in efforts to influence more inclusive policies.