As civil rights advocates, we strongly oppose Mayor Mahan’s proposal to arrest homeless individuals who refuse shelter. This policy will disproportionately harm Black and brown people, including those with disabilities, who are overrepresented in the unhoused population due to systemic racism, economic inequality, and a lack of affordable, fair, accessible, and safe housing. The racial and disability disparities in homelessness According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, Black/African Americans make up about 17% of the homeless population despite being only 2.5% of the local population. Latino and Indigenous populations also face high rates of homelessness due to economic disparities...