WASHINGTON, DC – Today, after news reports indicate the Trump White House is considering pushing for a “major crackdown” on homelessness in California, U.S. Senator Jack Reed issued the following statement:

“Homelessness is a complex issue, and effectively addressing it requires real resources and a sustained commitment.  Unfortunately, President Trump seems more interested in scapegoating homeless people and trying to use their plight as partisan fodder against his perceived critics.  That’s not the way to help anyone, and his latest plans sound dangerously like rounding people up.  

“Folks experiencing homelessness don’t deserve to be another example of the Trump administration’s failures and cruelty.  Instead of just pushing people who’ve fallen on hard times further to the margins of society, we need an Administration that wants to act in good faith with all partners on a comprehensive approach to end homelessness.”

Senator Reed, the Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Housing and Urban Development (THUD), has led efforts to increase federal investments in affordable housing and programs to assist Americans experiencing homelessness.