People experiencing homelessness are increasingly harassed and criminalized for trying to survive in public spaces. But when a person loses their housing, they retain their legal rights and freedoms. 

The criminalization of homelessness refers to when cities enact and enforce laws to target and punish unhoused people for conducting necessary, life-sustaining activities like sleeping and sitting outside. 

Open the menus below to learn more about your rights when experiencing homelessness in Maine cities and towns.

Read more about Grants Pass, the most significant case concerning unhoused people's rights in decades.

 

1. Encampment Sweeps (All Maine Towns and Cities)

A.Encampment Sweeps (All Maine Towns and Cities)

A.

Maine towns and cities must provide advance notice of any sweep or removal of a campsite from public property.

During an encampment sweep or campsite removal, local officials CANNOT destroy your personal property, unless it poses a hazard to health or safety, you consent to the property being thrown away, or you voluntarily abandon your property. 

If you are impacted by an encampment sweep, you have the right to:

  • At least 24 hours notice before an encampment sweep or removal of a campsite.
  • Notice of the sweep posted at the campsite and on, or near, each tent or other structure that will be removed.
  • Storage of your personal property – including IDs, official documents, tents or tarps, chairs, bicycles, radios and other electronic equipment, medications, photos, medical devices like walkers and wheelchairs, and other valuables – for at least one week.
  • Notice of personal property stored by local officials and information about how, exactly, stored property can be claimed, including where the property is stored.

2. Disability Rights During Sweeps (All Maine Towns and Cities)

A.Disability Rights During Sweeps (All Maine Towns and Cities)

A.

People with physical and mental health disabilities can request reasonable accommodations during sweeps.

Reasonable accommodations may include:   

  • Clear and advance communication
  • More time to move or store belongings
  • Getting medication and medical devices returned quickly
  • Keeping medical devices and other mobility aids, like a cane, walker, wheelchair, crutches, brace, sling, or boot.

If you need an accommodation, do these three things:  

  • Ask for a “reasonable accommodation” (it is best to provide a written and verbal request for a reasonable accommodation)
  • State your disability
  • State the reason your disability makes the accommodation necessary. 

3. Police Encounters (All Maine Towns and Cities)

A.Police Encounters (All Maine Towns and Cities)

A.

If you are being questioned by police about a criminal matter:

  • Ask “Am I free to go?”
    • If the police officer says yes, then you can leave.
    • If the police officer says no, then clearly demand a lawyer and state that you are invoking your right to remain silent. Say “I am exercising my right to remain silent. I do not consent to any searches. I want to talk to an attorney, and I will not talk to you or answer any questions until my attorney is present.” Then stop talking and remain silent.
  • Do not talk about your immigration status or citizenship with anyone other than your lawyer. 
  • Do not run away from police or physically resist arrest.
  • Truthfully provide your name and birthdate if the police officer is writing you a ticket or other citation.

4. Encampment Sweeps (Portland Only)

A.Encampment Sweeps (Portland Only)

A.

Under Portland’s camping ban policy, the city must provide advance notice of any sweep or removal of a campsite from public property.

Unlike other Maine towns and cities, if all emergency shelters in Portland are full, the city cannot remove any campsites unless the sites are an “immediate hazard” or an obstruction.

During an encampment sweep or campsite removal, the city CANNOT destroy your personal property, unless it poses a hazard to health or safety, you consent to the property being thrown away, or you voluntarily abandon your property. 

If you are impacted by an encampment sweep, you have the right to:

  • At least 24 hours notice before an encampment sweep or removal of a campsite.
  • Notice of the sweep posted at the campsite and on, or near, each tent or other structure that will be removed.
  • Storage of your personal property – including IDs, official documents, tents or tarps, chairs, bicycles, radios and other electronic equipment, medications, photos, medical devices like walkers and wheelchairs, and other valuables – for at least one week.
  • Notice of personal property stored by the city and information about how, exactly, stored property can be claimed, including where the property is stored.
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