UNHEALTHY BY DESIGN: Public Health Consequences of Denver’s Criminalization of Homelessness
Written by Tony Robinson (Ph.D.) and Marisa Westbrook (MPH) of University of Colorado Denver
Survey Design and Data Collection In Collaboration with Denver Homeless Out Loud
Ever wonder what are the physical, mental, emotional, and safety effects are on people living without housing under the “camping ban?”
This study examines the public health consequences of criminalizing homelessness in Denver. The study reports on a poll of 484 homeless individuals in Denver, regarding their experiences with “quality of life” policing, and how those policing practices are affecting their personal health and quality of life.
Read the one page summary here
Watch livesteam of the report release presentation here below.
A Few Findings Below:
Respondents who are frequently woken by police typically sleep only in short bursts: 49% report 2 hours or less of uninterrupted sleep) and achieve less than four hours of sleep a night (37% of all respondents).
87% of respondents seek different sleeping locations to avoid police contact; 50% of respondents have sought more hidden and isolated locations.
Both male and female respondents who have found more hidden sleeping location report increased rates of robbery, physical violence and sexual assault.
Women who have found more hidden sleeping locations report a 50% higher rate of robbery, a 60% higher rate of sexual assault, and more than 3 times the rate of physical assault.
Denver Homeless Out Loud 