Oppose House Bill 642, a bill that targets our unhoused neighbors, rather than providing solutions.

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The ACLU of Montana rises in opposition to HB 642, a bill that targets the most vulnerable amongst us, our unhoused neighbors. Rather than addressing the root causes of people experiencing housing shortages or lack of access to mental health care, this legislation pushes individuals out of society by criminalizing them for being unhoused.

HB 642 offers no provisions for funding shelters, mental health support, or substance abuse treatment. It only penalizes people and exacerbates cycles of poverty. Those convicted for "public nuisance" under HB 642 will not only accumulate fines they cannot afford, but also a criminal record, making it harder for unhoused individuals to find jobs or housing.

We cannot keep criminalizing poverty and then expect better outcomes. HB 642 effectively punishes people for being unhoused, while also lacking clear criteria for what constitutes "camping," opening the door to arbitrary or discriminatory enforcement. For these reasons, we encourage you to send a message to your elected leaders and tell them to vote NO on HB 642. Our neighbors deserve support, not criminalization.

The recipient:

Governor Gianforte

The message:

The recipient:

Governor Gianforte

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Your Message

Subject Provide solutions instead of criminalization – OPPOSE HB 642

I urge you, as my elected official, to oppose HB 642, a bill that targets the most vulnerable amongst us - our unhoused neighbors. Rather than addressing the root causes of people experiencing houselessness, such as lack of affordable housing or access to mental health care, this legislation pushes individuals out of society by criminalizing them for being unhoused.

HB 642 provides no provisions for funding shelters, mental health support, or substance abuse treatment. It only penalizes people and exacerbates cycles of poverty. Those who are convicted for "public nuisance" under HB 642 will not only accrue fines they cannot afford to pay, but also criminal records, making it harder for unhoused individuals to find jobs or housing.

Message Body

We can’t keep criminalizing poverty and then expect a better outcome. HB 642 effectively punishes people for being unhoused while also lacking clear criteria for what constitutes "camping," which opens the door to arbitrary or discriminatory enforcement.

For these reasons, I urge you to OPPOSE HB 642.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]

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Oppose House Bill 642, a bill that targets our unhoused neighbors, rather than providing solutions.

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