I lived in my car for nine months in Boise. I had no support, nowhere to go, and no one to turn to. My car was the only safe place I had. At night I hung blankets in the windows for privacy. I kept everything I owned in the backseat. I never panhandled. I never left trash behind or caused a scene. I hid in my car, trying to be invisible. I was respectful of my surroundings and just trying to stay safe. I was not camping. I was surviving. And I was not the only one living that way and many others still are.

Now Idaho has passed Senate Bill 1141, which makes survival like mine illegal. Under this law, sleeping outdoors or in your vehicle without authorization is a crime. People who have nowhere else to go are punished simply for existing. It offers no help, no solutions, just penalties for homelessness.

This law could have destroyed my chance to rebuild. Instead of being arrested or fined, I got help. Idaho provided resources that allowed me to get stable housing and rebuild my life. That is how I know that criminalizing homelessness is not the answer.

Idaho already struggles to provide enough shelter beds. According to the 2023 Point in Time Count, more than 2,000 Idahoans were experiencing homelessness on a single night, with almost one third unsheltered. Many rural counties have no shelter at all. Criminalizing sleeping in public when no shelters are available violates human dignity and common sense.

The courts have also made it clear laws like SB1141 raise constitutional concerns. In Martin v. Boise, the Ninth Circuit ruled that arresting people for sleeping outdoors when no shelters are available is cruel and unusual punishment. Idaho was the center of that landmark ruling, yet SB1141 seems to ignore it completely.

SB1141 goes into effect on July 1. If we do not stop it, people all over Idaho will be criminalized for being homeless. Families, veterans, seniors, and countless individuals could face criminal penalties simply for surviving.

We are urging Governor Brad Little, Attorney General Raúl Labrador, Senator Codi Galloway, Representative Bruce Skaug, and all Idaho leaders to prevent this law from taking effect. Instead of criminalization, we need compassionate and practical solutions like expanded shelters, affordable housing, and community support.

Please sign and share this petition. Your voice can help stop SB1141 and protect people’s right to survive.