The homeless community that became a self-governed village

Dignity Village is an intriguing answer to some of the thorniest questions posed by the homelessness crisis. Encampment sweeps are on the rise, fueled by a 2024 Supreme Court decision that overturned federal protections for those inhabiting public property if they had nowhere else to go. But the question of where to put those who have been swept remains intractable. The core idea behind Dignity Village is to allow them to figure it out for themselves. Above: A Dignity Village council meeting