Louisiana Advances Controversial Anti-Homeless Bill

The proposed legislation would criminalize homelessness and force unpaid labor for treatment programs.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 12:18am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A heavily textured, fragmented painting in muted tones depicting the personal belongings of a homeless person, conveying a sense of motion and instability.A fractured, abstract painting captures the instability and displacement experienced by Louisiana's homeless population as the state advances a controversial anti-homelessness bill.New Orleans Today

The Louisiana House of Representatives has passed a bill that would make unauthorized sleeping in public spaces a crime punishable by fines and imprisonment. The bill, known as the 'Streets to Success Act', would also require homeless individuals convicted of the offense to enter mandatory treatment programs, with the option to perform unpaid labor if they cannot afford the program costs.

Why it matters

The bill has been criticized by homeless advocates as one of the 'cruelest' anti-homeless measures in the country, evoking comparisons to debtor's prisons and forced labor. It comes amid a broader trend of states and cities criminalizing homelessness following a 2024 Supreme Court decision allowing such policies.

The details

House Bill 211 would make unauthorized public sleeping a crime punishable by up to a $500 fine, six months in jail, or both. Repeat offenders could face one to two years in prison with hard labor and a $1,000 fine. Those convicted would be given the option to avoid jail time by entering a mandatory treatment program for at least 12 months, but would be required to pay for the program or perform unpaid labor if they cannot afford the costs.

  • The Louisiana House of Representatives voted to pass the bill this week.
  • The bill will now advance to the GOP-controlled state Senate.

The players

Debbie Villio

The Republican state representative who sponsored the bill, claiming the goal is to 'connect' homeless individuals to service providers.

Bill Quigley

The director of the Gillis Long Poverty Law Center at Loyola University New Orleans, who called the bill's premise 'a farce' and 'a cruel theater of the absurd'.

Lesli Harris

A New Orleans City Councilmember who has opposed the bill, pointing to the success of the city's 'Housing First' approach to homelessness.

Housing Not Handcuffs

A homeless advocacy group that said the bill 'clearly evokes debtor's prisons, convict leasing, and the ugliest day of Jim Crow'.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“If people had the resources to pay for housing and physical and/or mental health services, they would not be on the street.”

— Bill Quigley, Director, Gillis Long Poverty Law Center

“Through our Home for Good program, we house an individual for roughly $21,844 per year. By comparison, jailing that same person costs an average of $51,000—and failing to act at all can cost up to $55,000 in emergency room visits and crisis rehousing.”

— Lesli Harris, New Orleans City Councilmember

“This bill forces homeless people charged with a crime to make the false choice between jail or at least one year of forced treatment. Louisiana has a long history—and present—of chain gangs, prison labor, and entrenched white supremacy. This bill clearly evokes debtor's prisons, convict leasing, and the ugliest day of Jim Crow.”

— Housing Not Handcuffs, Homeless advocacy group

What’s next

The bill will now move to the Republican-controlled state Senate, where it is expected to face additional debate and scrutiny.

The takeaway

This controversial legislation highlights the ongoing struggle to address homelessness in a humane and effective manner, as cities and states continue to criminalize poverty and deprive unhoused individuals of basic rights and services.