Nicolas Gutierrez III
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About Nicolas
Gutierrez’s research focuses on the expansion of the police state, the criminalization of homelessness, and community mobilization in response to these actions. His current project examines how grassroots organizers work with unhoused neighbors to resist punitive governmental responses to homelessness, particularly encampment sweeps. As a Research Assistant at SDSU, Gutierrez has explored service-seeking behaviors of people experiencing homelessness, public perceptions of homeless-serving facilities, and the quality and quantity of public restrooms in San Diego County. He serves on the West Adams Neighborhood Council’s Homelessness committee, organizing local homeless-serving programs.
Contributions
Publications
Examines racialized encounters with the police from the perspectives of people experiencing homelessness in San Diego, California in 2020. Conducts a survey of (n = 244) and interviews with (n = 57) homeless San Diegans during initial shelter-in-place orders, oversampling for Black respondents, whose voices are often under-represented despite high rates of homelessness nationally. Reflects on these findings and our framework for envisioning a system of public safety that supports and cares for—rather than punishes—the most vulnerable members of our society.
Discusses when people experiencing extreme poverty face apathy, disrespect, and discrimination from police—as our data show—the result is a reluctance to seek services and to engage with outreach when offered. Reinforces stereotypes of unhoused people as not “wanting” help or “choosing” to be homeless.