Homeless rights advocates rally outside Supreme Court

WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — Demonstrators gathered outside of the United States Supreme Court where one of the most significant cases surrounding homelessness in decades was being considered on Monday.

Justices were hearing challenges to a ruling related to Johnson v. Grants Pass that found punishing people who are homeless for sleeping outside when there are not enough shelters available to them amounted to “cruel and unusual” punishment.

One of those cities is Grants Pass, Ore., which is mentioned in the case. It is among challengers that believe the ruling ties their hands when it comes to controlling growing homeless encampments. Grants Pass officials said encampments have become unsafe, crime-ridden, unhealthy and problematic for communities.

Demonstrators who hope the ruling will be upheld said if the court were to overturn it, the justices essentially would criminalize homelessness. Some of demonstrators Monday chanted and staged a die-in outside of the Supreme Court.

“This is a case about whether local governments can punish with tickets and fines people who are unhoused and sleeping in public, even when no adequate shelter exists,” said Antonia Fasanelli with National Homelessness Law Center.

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Homeless advocates said laws fining people for sleeping in public spaces make homelessness even worse. They said the solution is ensuring everyone has a safe and dignified home in which to sleep.

“You can’t just say somebody chose to be homeless,” said protester Rob Robinson. “It’s not a choice people are making. Circumstances create homelessness and we have to look at those circumstances and try to reverse them.”

The Supreme Court is expected to rule by the end of June.

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