By Sadé Daniels and Beraly Lopez
Housing is one of our most basic human needs. Yet our government’s response to the absence of housing is to criminalize and displace the people who lack it, instead of addressing why they do not have it in the first place.
On August 11th, the Trump administration announced a federal takeover of DC policing, deployment of the National Guard, and the immediate removal of homeless encampments, with plans to relocate people “far from the Capitol.” These measures come without clear plans for safe, voluntary housing or support. The pattern is familiar: sweeping people out of public view without addressing root causes.
If we truly want safer communities, we must understand that safety begins with stability. Research and lived experience both show that the most effective way to reduce homelessness is through providing safe, affordable housing to everyone. That means housing supported by rent protections, mental health care, and services that meet people where they are. Arrests, forced removals, and institutionalization don’t create stability; they destroy it.
We cannot talk about this without naming race and class. Federal policing and encampment sweeps will disproportionately impact Black, brown, and poor people. This is not speculation; it’s a historical pattern, from redlining to mass incarceration. Policies framed as “public safety” often end up deepening inequity.
For survivors of human trafficking, these crackdowns are especially dangerous. Homelessness is one of the highest risk factors for trafficking, and many survivors cycle in and out of housing instability after leaving their trafficking situation. Displacement and criminalization can force people into unsafe situations, break fragile support networks, and make it harder for survivors to connect with services that help them rebuild their lives. Too often, they end up in another trafficking situation when they cannot find a safe place to live.
Reducing crime is a goal we all share. But safety is not built by tearing apart communities or pushing vulnerable people into the shadows. People experiencing homelessness are part of our community too, and their safety, dignity, and agency must matter in our policies.
To learn more about survivors’ housing needs and how providers can address homelessness, check out our Resource Library.
Resource Library