Oregon city has the upper hand in homeless camping ban dispute, Supreme Court suggests

A majority of Supreme Court justices on Monday appeared sympathetic to an Oregon city making it a crime for anyone without a permanent residence to sleep outside in an effort to crack down on homeless encampments across public properties. The case, City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, carries enormous stakes nationwide as communities confront a growing tide of unhoused residents and increasingly turn to punitive measures to incentivize people to take advantage of social services and shelter options. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals previously said that a homeless camping ban amounted to “cruel and unusual punishment,” but conservative justices on the Supreme Court challenged this view during oral arguments. The case is being closely watched as it could have significant implications for how cities address homelessness moving forward.

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