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10 22 24 CU Research analyst Pranav Padmanabhan talks about homeless sweep efficacy
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Marty Lenz, Gina Gondik, and Morning Researchers led by Pranav Padma Nabon, research assistant and MPH student at the University of Colorado and shoots medical campus, analyze the effects of involuntary displacement on crime in one quarter to three quarters of a mile radius around sweep sight, sweeping the homeless among all sweeps between November of 2019 to July of 2023, results show no change in most crimes and negligible changes in others. The research has thrown water into the concept that moving and relocating homeless would also move crime out and away as well. Joining us now on the KOA Common Spirit Health Hotline with more on this research is Pranav. When we look at this research and the biggest takeaways that you saw from this study looking at homeless encampment sweeps in this area, were there any parts of this result that really came as a surprise to you? We conducted the study to really answer the question of do sweeps make our communities safer? So as you mentioned, we looked at over 300 sweeps in Denver over a nearly four year period and by and large we found that crime did not change from before to after a sweep. When we looked at what types of crimes might be affected, we saw that within a quarter mile radius and within seven days we saw a slight decrease of about one crime per sweep. And oftentimes this crime was either a public disorder crime or an auto theft. However, one really important and interesting finding is that one type of crime which was assaults actually increased following a sweep. So within areas that are slightly outside of the encampment, we saw that those neighborhoods actually experienced more violence in the weeks following a sweep. Pranav, what was the homeless count in those areas that you were studying? We did not have access to data on the exact number of people who were displaced in each encampment sweep. But the sweeps that we analyzed ranged in size from up to a couple of sweep blocks all the way up to even up to 10 blocks at a time. When you talk about these sweeps and we look and analyze these a little further, do you think one of the reasons why crime really didn't change is because sometimes these people are taken out of their areas and maybe just moved a couple blocks down the road because they do have nowhere else to go? Or were these sweeps where people were actually taken to different areas for any type of wraparound services? Yeah, that's a great question. And the sweeps that we looked at largely happened from 2019 to 2023 under the Hancock administration, and we know that the types of sweeps that are happening now might be slightly different. However, we designed a study to be generalizable, so what we were really looking at is the impact of moving people away from an encampment on crime. And we also know that, especially during that time period, few people actually ended up receiving services, especially permanent housing. So what we saw is that when people are moved just around the block, largely crime doesn't change. The neighborhoods that were surrounding that encampment are no better off than they were before the sweep, and the people who were displaced are oftentimes worse off because they are at increased risk of overdose and infection, they get worse sleep, they oftentimes lose their medications and their belongings. So what we saw is that when we moved people, we're using public resources, but really, the problem is unsolved. What do you think are some of the variables in this study that, well, if it was done this way, it could have had different results or if things were altered in this way, it could change what we saw when it comes to the crime statistics? So as part of our study, we really tried to break the results. We analyzed the data we had in a variety of different ways. We looked at sweeps that just happened in one year or another. We excluded sweeps that might have happened close together in time. And across all of the dozens of scenarios we tested, we saw really the same results. We saw that crime did not meaningfully change following a sweep. Does this study show a bias that many of us may have in an assumption that the homeless bring crime? I think what we hope to show with our data is that the common perception that people experiencing homelessness are responsible for crime is really not backed up by any evidence. We don't see that people, when they're moved, we don't see that the neighborhood surrounding them are any more safe. And I think it's also important to remember that people experiencing homelessness are at much greater risk of experiencing crime and violence themselves. There was a recent study that just came out that showed that people experiencing homelessness are up to 40 times at greater risk of experiencing assault compared to those who are housed. So when we think about public safety, I think it's really important to remember that people experiencing homelessness are also members of the public. And when we displace them without offering them services, not only is the surrounding community no better off, but the people who are displaced are often worse off. Bronov, where do you hope this research will go from here? Like you mentioned, a lot of these numbers come from Mayor Hancock's administration. Now under Mayor Mike Johnston, are there things that you hope to put forward to lawmakers? Absolutely. I think one of the biggest takeaways from this research as well as what other researchers around the country who are working on this have showed is that involuntarily displacing people simply pushing them around the block without offering them any permanent and high quality housing is not an effective long-term solution. And it isn't an effective use of our public resources either. So we hope that this can provide evidence to inform decision-making both in Denver as well as in other cities around the nation who are struggling with what to do with rising homelessness. That is lead Arthur and researcher Pranav Padma Nabhan. You can find more information to see the research at seeyouanshirts.edu/news and in the journal of urban health. There's only one feeling like knowing your banker personally, like growing up with a bank you can count on, like being sure what you've earned is safe, secure and local. There's only one feeling like knowing you're supporting your community. You deserve more from a bank. You deserve an institution that stood strong for generations. Bank of Colorado, there's only one. At Sprout's Farmers Market, we're all about fresh, healthy and delicious. Visit your neighborhood Sprout's Farmers Market today where flavor fills every scoop. (upbeat music)