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Supreme Court to Weigh Constitutionality of Laws Banning Public Camping
Supreme Court hears case on whether laws banning public camping violate Constitution, impacting how cities address homelessness crisis.
The Supreme Court is set to rule on a significant case involving homelessness and the constitutionality of anti-camping ordinances. This ruling could have far-reaching implications for how cities and states address the issue of homelessness across the nation.
The Case
The dispute at the center of the case revolves around Grants Pass, a city in southern Oregon. The city's ordinances prohibit camping or sleeping on public property or in city parks, with violators facing fines and potential criminal trespass charges. The case stems from a lawsuit brought by three homeless individuals in Grants Pass, who argue that the ordinances violate the Eighth Amendment's protections against cruel and unusual punishment.
Ruling and Appeals
A federal district court ruled in favor of the homeless challengers, leading to an appeal by Grants Pass officials. The case eventually made its way to the Supreme Court, with the city arguing that modest fines and jail terms for camping on public property do not constitute cruel and unusual punishment.
The outcome of this case has the potential to impact how cities and states across the country respond to the growing rates of homelessness, which have been exacerbated by factors such as high housing costs and the expiration of pandemic-era assistance programs.
Nationwide Issue
According to a December 2023 report from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, there were an estimated 256,000 unsheltered people in the U.S. on a given night in 2023. This marked a 12% increase from the previous year, reaching the highest level since tracking began in 2007.
Legal Perspectives
Both sides of the case have garnered support from various organizations and government entities. The Justice Department has weighed in, stating that while the Eighth Amendment prohibits criminalizing homelessness, broad injunctions issued by lower courts may limit cities' ability to respond appropriately and humanely to encampments and public health and safety concerns.
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