Maryland Signs Nation's First Homeless Hate Crime Law

Today, Maryland became the first state in the union to extend hate crime protection to homeless people. Bravo, Maryland, for this a bold, symbolic response to the targeted attacks on people who don't have a home. But why not just address the problem by getting serious about ending homelessness?

Unlike other categories protected by most hate crime laws - such as gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or religion - a person's "homeless" status is not permanent. In fact, it is preventable and can be quickly ended with targeted services, like Housing First.

So while this protection is important to protect people in the short-term, the need for such a law underscores the urgency to get serious about ending homelessness to the top of the federal policy agenda. Housing will, in fact, protect our most vulnerable citizens better than any kind of hate crime law.

That said, the need for this law was both well-documented and gut-wrenching. The National Coalition for the Homeless, in a statement today, provided the sickening history of attacks against the homeless in Maryland leading up to this legislation:

From 1999-2007, there have been 774 documented acts of violence committed against homeless individuals in the United States, 217 of which have resulted in deaths. In Maryland, documented attacks on homeless people date back at least to 1992, when a homeless Korean War veteran was killed in Annapolis after being soaked in urine, kicked down a ravine, and called a "worthless bum." In 2001, a group of young men from South Baltimore began beating and robbing homeless people, a spree which resulted in three deaths. On Valentine's Day in 2008, a homeless man was beaten to death while sleeping in an alley in Frederick.

Beyond the cruelty of these attacks, the most alarming thing about crimes targeting the homeless is that they're rapidly becoming more common. From 2002 to 2005, hate crimes against the homeless increased 300%. Fatal attacks rose by 67%. And new study by the NCH found that this number has increased even more - 65% - since 2005.

If you're not mad as hell just yet, skip over here and read #5.

Sure, the fact that our most vulnerable and easy-to-target citizens are falling victim to unthinkable violence and cruelty is disgusting. But this is just a small piece of the entire experience of being homeless. I applaud Maryland for leading the nation in providing additional protection to a vulnerable population. I hope the state continues to pave the way in protecting the homeless by addressing the significant need for housing, a livable wage, healthcare, and supportive services. By addressing these needs, Maryland just might eliminate the need for hate crime protection altogether.

Which state will be next to follow Maryland's lead? Texas, California, and Ohio are reportedly considering similar bills and legislation has been introduced in Congress.