The Criminalization of Homelessness in Chicago

Community organizations report that Chicago was experiencing a rise in homelessness before the global pandemic, which pushed more people into a state of homelessness. City leaders admit to needing more resources to address the larger number of people living on the street. History, however, shows that cities often turn towards policies the criminalize the homeless when the “problem” becomes more visible, overwhelming public spaces and spreading into wealthier spaces thereby threatening local revenues and electoral security of officials. In this study, we will examine the occurrence of these types of crime and spatial differences in the communities where these “crimes'' occur. City governments must consider providing free housing in wealthier spaces rather than arresting and incarcerating some of the cities’ most vulnerable residents and confiscating their property.