U.S. Supreme Court Decision Could Reshape Cities' Response to Homelessness

San Francisco Pauses Lawsuit as Nation Awaits Ruling on Public Sleeping Rights of Homeless Individuals

San Francisco and Seattle, among other cities, are awaiting a U.S. Supreme Court decision on a case that could impact how cities respond to homelessness.
The case, Johnson v. Grants Pass, Ore., challenges the constitutionality of citing homeless people who sleep in public when they have no other options.
San Francisco has requested a pause on a separate lawsuit that limits the city from clearing homeless encampments until the Supreme Court decision is made.
The lawsuit against San Francisco alleges the city violates laws and the rights of homeless individuals by clearing encampments without offering adequate shelter and unlawfully seizing their belongings.
The Supreme Court decision, expected by the end of June, could change the legal landscape for homelessness issues across the country.