Albuquerque DSA strongly opposes Ordinance 0-24-42, currently under consideration by the City Council, which would criminalize homelessness under the guise of "public safety."
This ordinance targets some of the most vulnerable members of our community. It grants broad discretion to law enforcement to determine when and how to enforce these measures, allowing them to target individuals based on mere presence in public spaces. This level of discretion opens the door to abuses of power and further marginalization of unhoused individuals, many of whom are already at the mercy of an underfunded and inadequate social safety net.
This ordinance essentially criminalizes the mere existence of unhoused people, punishing them for simply trying to survive. Far from addressing the root causes of homelessness, it deepens the cycle of poverty and pushes people further into harm's way.
Albuquerque has already witnessed the devastating consequences of criminalizing poverty. Over 50% of the inmates at the Metropolitan Detention Center are unhoused, and recent city efforts to clear homeless encampments have violated the civil rights of those living on the streets by destroying their personal belongings without proper notice. Ordinance O-24-42 would exacerbate these injustices by increasing interactions between the unhoused and law enforcement, leading to more fines, citations, and jail time—all while doing nothing to solve the underlying issues.
Instead of punitive measures, Albuquerque should invest in real solutions: expanding affordable housing, increasing mental health and substance abuse services, and providing greater access to shelter and rental assistance. These are the steps that will create lasting change—not laws that criminalize the existence of people in need.
The Albuquerque DSA stands firmly against Ordinance O-24-42 and calls on the City Council to reject it. We urge the community to speak out against this heartless measure and stand in solidarity with our unhoused neighbors. Criminalizing poverty is not the Burque we want to live in.