On April 22, the Supreme Court will hear the most important case about homelessness in 40 years. At issue: The city of Grants Pass, Ore., has a law banning camping in public. The law defines a campsite as any place that has bedding, like a sleeping bag or pillow.
Gloria Johnson and others experiencing homelessness in Grants Pass are fighting back in a landmark case that will determine whether cities have the right to penalize people with for sleeping outside.
Grants Pass is just one of many cities across the U.S. facing a severe housing shortage, with thousands of housing units below the necessary threshold. If SCOTUS rules in favor of the city, it will authorize municipalities and states to punish people forced to sleep outdoors with arrest and steep fines, even when those people have no other safe options. This ruling would make homelessness worse and punish people for existing in public spaces. Research shows that criminalizing homelessness is ineffective, wastes taxpayer money, keeps people homeless for longer, and distracts from real solutions like housing and supportive services.
How can we draw attention to and build power around this case?
