Encampments

Portland, Oregon street

Portland Moves Forward With Contentious Homelessness Strategy

The city’s plan to reduce the number of unhoused people has met with criticism, particularly for a proposal to ban encampment on public property citywide.

December 7, 2022 - Smart Cities Dive

"No homeless sleeping" stenciled on grey dumpster in urban alley

‘Dignity Village’ Threatened by Anti-Camping Law

Portland’s ‘aggressive’ new camping ban could threaten the city’s most stable community of unhoused people, the two-decade old, self-governing Dignity Village.

November 18, 2022 - Next City

Group of tents and bins used by unhoused people in Washington, D.C. park with snow

Evaluating D.C.’s Plan to House Encampment Residents

One year into a pilot program to reduce encampments by offering housing and services to residents, almost three-quarters of participants have moved into housing.

October 18, 2022 - Axios

Street in San Francisco's Tenderloin District with tents on sidewalk

Sacramento Voters to Decide on Using Lawsuits to Reclaim Sidewalks

Measure O may be one of the first ballot measures of its kind to empower residents to take legal action against a city for illegal encampments on city property. The Sacramento City Council voted 7-2 on August 9 to place the ordinance before voters.

September 29, 2022 - San Francisco Chronicle

Two people holding sign that says "house keys not handcuffs" during an anti-homelessness event in Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles Tightens Restrictions on Encampments

During a city council meeting that had to pause while police cleared the room of activists opposing the measure, the council voted to ban public sleeping within 500 feet of schools, making one-fifth of city sidewalks off-limits to unhoused people.

August 9, 2022 - Los Angeles Times

Encampment of unhoused people in Sacramento, California with freeway in the background

Judge Bars Sacramento Encampment Sweeps

Advocates for unhoused people are calling on the city and county to provide more resources for supportive housing, open more cooling centers, and build more shelter beds.

August 7, 2022 - KCRA

Washington

Spokane Prepares To Disband the State’s Largest Community of Unhoused People

With $24 million in state funding directed to Spokane’s efforts to reduce homelessness, city officials plan to relocate the over 600 residents of Camp Hope. But will services follow?

July 20, 2022 - RANGE Media

Los Angeles Protest

L.A. Shifts Homeless Policy to Clear Street Encampments

Advocates say L.A.'s new focus on clearing 'unsightly' homeless encampments is a political band-aid that won't help people find permanent housing.

November 22, 2021 - Los Angeles Times

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

HUD’s 2023 Innovative Housing Showcase

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Websites

The best of the Internet—since 2002.

Top Apps

Planning apps for a brave new world.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.