This paper examines how homelessness is criminalized in Greensboro, North Carolina, and the ways in which the Homeless Union of Greensboro (HUG) has contested such criminalization. This paper draws on data from a participatory action research study conducted between 2018 and 2020 by a group of researchers from two local universities and members of HUG. Findings from our study suggest that law enforcement officers in Greensboro use a vast array of laws to harass, ticket, and arrest people experiencing homelessness, particularly those who are Black. Findings also suggest that when individuals experiencing homelessness seek help for citations or arrests, it is challenging to access quality, affordable legal representation. This paper illustrates how HUG takes a multi-pronged approach to address the variety of policies and practices that target homeless people, particularly people of color, recognizing that systems change requires a multifaceted approach that adapts to dynamic social and political contexts.

中文翻译：

---

“我不是罪犯，我只是无家可归者”：格林斯伯勒无家可归者联盟为解决无家可归者刑事定罪所做的努力

本文研究了北卡罗来纳州格林斯伯勒的无家可归者是如何被定罪的，以及格林斯伯勒无家可归者联盟 (HUG) 对这种定罪提出质疑的方式。本文借鉴了来自当地两所大学的一组研究人员和 HUG 成员在 2018 年至 2020 年间进行的参与性行动研究的数据。我们的研究结果表明，格林斯伯勒的执法人员使用大量法律骚扰、罚单和逮捕无家可归者，尤其是黑人。调查结果还表明，当无家可归者寻求传票或逮捕帮助时，获得优质、负担得起的法律代表是一项挑战。