Facing temperatures below the freezing mark, a small group of activists stayed the night for their twenty-fifth community sleepout at Santa Cruz City Hall on December 29. The next sleepout was planned for Tuesday, January 5.

Since July 4, community members in Santa Cruz have been sleeping one night a week at Santa Cruz City Hall to protest laws that criminalize sleeping in public places. Their main focus has been on the repeal of the local sleeping/camping ban, which outlaws sleeping in public (with or without blankets) in the City of Santa Cruz between the hours of 11pm and 8:30am, in addition to prohibiting sleeping in cars. Individuals are also sleeping at city hall to encourage officials to open public parks to those looking for a safe place to sleep at night.

Tuesday, January 5: Braving the Downpour: Freedom SleepOut #26 Seeks Shelter

See Also: Homeless Activists Maintain Protests, Continue to Sleep at Santa Cruz City Hall | Freedom Sleepers

Previous Coverage: Freedom Sleepers Confront Santa Cruz City Council at el Palomar Restaurant || Community Sleepouts Advance to 13th Week || Attendance Doubles at City Hall Sleepouts || Community Sleep-ins Continue at Santa Cruz City Hall || Community Campout Ends with Citations || Residents Respond to Withdrawal of Homeless Services Funds in Santa Cruz