"Housing, Not Handcuffs: The Human Cost of Fremont’s Camping Ban"

We stand with Council members Kathy Kimberlin and Desiree Campbell in opposing Fremont’s camping ban. This ordinance does not address the root causes of homelessness but instead penalizes those who are already struggling. Criminalizing encampments without ensuring adequate shelter and supportive services only pushes unhoused individuals further into instability, making it harder for them to find pathways to recovery and permanent housing.

Homelessness is a systemic issue that requires long-term solutions—affordable housing, mental health support, job training, and case management—not punitive measures that merely shift the problem out of sight. Even the city’s own deputy manager acknowledges that “creating more housing units would alleviate the problem,” yet this ban does nothing to achieve that goal.

A complaint-based enforcement system also raises concerns about discrimination and selective targeting, as Council member Campbell pointed out. Sweeping encampments without viable alternatives increases trauma and disrupts lives, making it even harder for people to break the cycle of homelessness.

Instead of punitive policies, Fremont should invest in proven strategies—such as transitional housing, tiny home communities, and wraparound services—that offer real pathways to stability. Banning people from existing in public spaces does not solve homelessness, it just hides it .