Arrested for Housing the Homeless

by Shannon Moriarty · 2009-11-23 19:30:00 UTC
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For eight years, Dan de Vaul has operated a residential sobriety program on his sprawling 72-acre ranch in San Luis Obispo. While many formerly homeless addicts credit de Vaul with their sobriety, he was arrested today for building code violations that violated the terms of his probation. Should de Vaul be praised for his efforts to house the homeless or punished for doing so illegally?

Pictured after the jump, the residential facilities on de Vaul's ranch were a mix of trailers, tents, garden sheds, and old converted houses and barns. The LA Times reported that De Vaul has received numerous orders to shut down the center, kick out the residents, and clean up his property. Yet, as soon as the authorities go away, he lets the sober-living clients back in.

Call it a blatant disregard for the law? Or an unapologetic desire to do what he believes is right?

Either way, de Vaul's defiance has landed him in prison. Two months ago, a jury convicted him of two misdemeanor building code violations. He was sentenced to probation, under which he could not break any laws. Since he again refused to displace the residents of his sobriety program, he was arrested and sentenced to prison for 90 days.

"I'm proud to go to jail for housing the homeless," he told reporters.

de Vaul's arrest raises some interesting questions about striking the ideal balance between help and harm. It's easy to argue that living conditions in violation of safety code are better than no structures at all. Then again, the people being housed illegally by de Vaul lack access to the array of housing programs that are compliant with the law and could potentially provide more comprehensive assistance.

Either way, there's no denying the life-changing impact de Vaul's efforts have had on those he has housed and served. One resident told the Times, "Without him, I wouldn't have my sobriety."

Images: LA Times

Shannon Moriarty has worked in various homeless shelters and service organizations around the country. She is a graduate student studying housing and urban policy at Tufts University.
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