Supreme Court to Hear Landmark Homelessness Case

Decision Could Reshape How Cities Across the U.S. Address Homelessness and Enforce Public Camping Laws

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case that could have significant implications for the treatment of homeless people across the country. The case, City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, questions whether laws regulating camping on public property constitute cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment.
The case comes in response to a ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in 2018, which found that punishing homeless people for sleeping outside in the absence of available shelter beds constituted cruel and unusual punishment. This ruling has been contested by city officials and business owners who argue it prevents municipalities from clearing homeless encampments.
Several cities and states, including California, have filed amicus briefs in support of the city of Grants Pass, arguing that the Ninth Circuit's rulings have complicated their efforts to address homelessness and clear encampments.
Advocates for the homeless argue that the Ninth Circuit's decisions do not prevent local governments from investing in support services and shelters, but rather prevent people from being punished for sleeping outdoors when they have no other option.
The Supreme Court's decision on this case, expected in June, could have far-reaching implications for how cities across the U.S. address homelessness and the enforcement of public camping laws.