Santa Cruz own city ordinance, MC 6.36.010 (a) bans the act of sleeping anywhere out of doors or in a vehicle between the hours of 11PM and 8:30AM.

It is almost exclusively enforced against homeless people who have the choice between walking around all night long in order to stay "lawful" or risking a $90 citation for "illegal" 40 winks.

Section B of the same ordinance outlaws the use of a blanket with which to keep warm---but ONLY at night (11PM - 8:30AM). There is an exception which allows you to use a blanket IN a vehicle but not OUTSIDE of a vehicle.

These laws, which are vigorously enforced (about 30 citations a month) further damage homeless people's abilities to work at jobs, find housing (with convictions on their records for sleeping, they become "criminals")and negatively impacts their health.

The ACLU in Santa Cruz has repeatedly REFUSED to take up the Sleeping Ban as a human rights issue.

City Councilmembers Mike Rotkin and Cynthia Mathews vigorously support the Sleeping Ban and engage in fear-mongoring claiming that if we ended the Sleeping Ban "10 million homeless people would move here tommorrow!" An absurd claim--but one that seems to be accepted even by the most progressive liberals.

call 423-HUFF if you would like more information, or would like to join an effort to repeal the Sleeping Ban and Blanket Ban before any more homeless people die from hypothermia.