Across the country, communities are standing up against anti-homeless violence

 

Across the country, communities are standing up against anti-homeless violence

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  Housing Not Handcuffs 

  From:communications@homelesslaw.org

  To:Mark M Giese

  Thu, Oct 22, 2026 at 3:29 PM

  Hello Housing Not Handcuffs supporters, All across the country, our homeless neighbors are under attack. In Lansing, Michigan, five homeless men have been murdered in the past year, with police raising questions about whether a serial killer is targeting unhoused people.  In Bridgeport and Milford, Connecticut, seven attacks have been reported in the last two months, including incidents where vigilantes threw large rocks, shot fireworks, and left behind swastikas at encampments. These extreme examples barely scratch the surface of the true scale of anti-homeless violence nationwide, with dozens of assaults reported and likely many more unrecognized. This uptick in violence comes as politicians, from City Councils to state legislatures and all the way up to the White House, have targeted homeless people with dehumanizing words and policies. When those in power treat our homeless neighbors as disposable and less than, they stoke flames of violence and put lives at risk.  But, in the face of these horrific attacks, communities are coming together to demand something better. We are inspired by those in Michigan and Connecticut who are advocating for true safety for people sleeping outside and for their entire communities – safety rooted in dignity, housing, and ensuring everyone's basic needs are met.

  Law Center attorney Sadia Rahman joins CT advocates at press conference

  Read our full statement, including quotes from our partners at the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness (MCAH) and Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness.  Learn more about how communities in Michigan and Connecticut are responding on MCAH's podcast and in the Connecticut Mirror's coverage. In solidarity, The Housing Not Handcuffs Campaign