Allison Rollison on LinkedIn: Supreme Court says cities can ban homeless from sleeping outside (2024)

Housing and shelter are essential pillars of society, and having a safe place to sleep is a fundamental human need. We’re sorely disappointed that the Court today failed to recognize that locking someone up for sleeping outside when they have nowhere else to go is cruel and unusual punishment. The majority’s inability to see this as a violation of the Eighth Amendment misreads how inescapable homelessness has become for a record setting number of American families. Here’s what we know: homelessness is a direct result of a lack of affordable housing. And until we create and preserve more affordable homes, arrests and other phony fixes will only drive more people deeper into homelessness and despair.Here’s the good news: We know what works. Placing individuals rapidly into a permanent home with supportive services is the most effective way of keeping them off the streets. As the nation’s largest affordable housing organization, Enterprise calls on our leaders to commit to real solutions. We won’t rest until we deploy smart, proven solutions to end homelessness in America as we know it.https://lnkd.in/eUPeG7v4

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https://lnkd.in/enPhzxB2I’m not a constitutional scholar but I know that locking someone up because there is no available housing or temporary shelter options is a morally bankrupt position. If that’s not enough, it’s also way more expensive, harmful, and inneffective than investing in supportive and affordable housing. In Virginia, we spend roughly $230M on affordable housing and homelessness programs - many of which haven’t seen funding increases for a decade despite the cost of housing skyrocketing. In Virginia, we also spend $1.5B per year on our prison system. Don’t like seeing fellow humans living on the street or in tents? Neither do I. This is absolutely something we can collectively fix. Virginia can start actually investing in affordable housing and homelessness programs. Local governments can streamline permitting, cut fees, change their zoning to accommodate a wider variety of housing types, and figure out other ways to incentivize affordable housing options. Affordable housing and homelessness are complex and difficult issues but they are absolutely solveable. Locking people up is just going to make it worse.

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The #GrantsPass ruling “is going to significantly worsen the challenges that people face in regaining housing,” says Dr. Margot Kushel MD "And it is not going to get us any closer to the solution that everyone in San Francisco wants.”Immediate responses to homelessness, such as criminalization and forced displacements make homelessness worse, by traumatizing people and making it harder for them to regain housing.We know how to solve homelessness. It’s time to redirect resources from ineffective methods to evidence-based solutions that consistently work.➡️ Discover how the Veterans Administration and Santa Clara County successfully reduced homelessness with Housing First strategies: https://lnkd.in/gvrm5cUb➡️ Learn how Denver's evidence-based encampment resolution strategies have helped move 1,600 people indoors: https://lnkd.in/g2GJxGxChttps://lnkd.in/gnZKu-jV

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Despite a fear mongering campaign from some in the media and the cottage industry that exists only to sue cities rather than offer any solutions, the US Supreme Court returned authority to local governments to address homelessness. Homelessness is utterly complex; there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, it’s takes a perfect symphony of street outreach, case management, sheltering, treatment, mental health access, healthcare…and yes, restrained enforcement…to reach functional zero homelessness. When enforcement was removed from a city’s toolbox, some agencies felt powerless. That being said, the City of Murrieta saw the writing on the wall with the Martin decision and partnered for enough beds, as all cities should have moved towards. We also created a regional approach to outreach. Not perfect, but it was a step forward. Homelessness cannot be solved by a city working in a silo; instead, solutions must be regional. One last rant…if one more person quotes the point in time count as an accurate, scientific measurement of homelessness, I’m gonna lose my mind. PIT counts are meaningless numbers and can be manipulated by jurisdictions to suit their own purposes. Anyone from Sacramento really think homelessness went down by 30% this year?!? One of my favorite quotes: “In God We Trust, all others bring data.” But bring truthful, scientific data to the table. https://lnkd.in/g6qTWdzV

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The washingtonpost.com just published Esther Chung and my letter about #SCOTUS deliberation on homelessness as part of Grants Pass v. Johnson in #Oregon. #SCOTUS and policymakers should consider two key questions: Are people who are living outside doing so voluntarily or involuntarily? And is shelter available to them?As part of a 2023 study evaluating Oregon’s drug possession decriminalization #Measure110, we conducted a study of 468 people who use drugs in eight Oregon counties, including Josephine County, where Grants Pass is located.In our study, 92% of people had slept outdoors, in a vehicle, or a tent in the past year and 85% reported they were homeless or unstably housed. Among people who reported they were homeless, 93% said they wanted to obtain housing (That figure was 87% in Josephine County).Among the people who wanted housing, 71% sought housing in the past year. Yet, of those, only 25% – and noone in Josephine County – were successful in obtaining housing. The average length of time for those on a waitlist was 17 months.These findings show that (a) people in Oregon are living outside involuntarily, and(b) housing is unavailable for most who seek it.Until these facts change, people will continue to live outside.https://lnkd.in/ekt-JtaZ

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San Diego’s ordinance against homeless encampments goes into effect; enforcement to begin July 31Enforcement is planned to be progressive, from a warning to a citation to possible arrest, with a homeless person offered shelter each time.Police will begin enforcement Monday, July 31, of San Diego’s new ordinance prohibiting homeless encampments in public spaces throughout the city if shelter beds are available.The law, called the Unsafe Camping Ordinance, officiallypassed the City Councilon June 27 and was signed by Mayor Todd Gloria on June 29. It officially goes into effect Sunday, July 30.The ordinance also bans encampments at all times in certain sensitive areas — within two blocks of schools or shelters and at all city parks, waterways, canyons and transit stations — regardless of shelter availability.“As the Unsafe Camping Ordinance takes effect, I encourage unsheltered people to take advantage of our new safe-sleeping site or available shelter beds,” said City Councilman Stephen Whitburn, who introduced the ordinance. “These options are much safer and healthier than living on sidewalks or in parks.“I also look forward to all San Diegans having safer and healthier neighborhoods where public areas are used for their intended purposes. Together, we can improve the quality of life in communities across San Diego.”Critics say the law criminalizes homelessness and won’t solve its greater causes.https://lnkd.in/gNUBecSc

Portland's Battle: Balancing Homeless Rights and Public Spaces as Supreme Court Weighs in on Street Sleeping LawsThis spring, the Supreme Court will hear the case of Grants Pass v. Johnson, which challenges a city's restrictions on outdoor sleeping by homeless individuals. The case follows the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals' decision in Martin v. Boise, which ruled that punishing homeless people for sleeping outside when there is no adequate shelter space violates the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. The outcome of Grants Pass v. Johnson could significantly impact how cities nationwide address homelessness and enforce camping bans on public property. Cities like Phoenix and Los Angeles have shown interest in the case by filing amicus briefs, indicating the national importance of the issue.Oregon has enacted HB 3115 in response to these legal challenges, providing a framework for municipalities to manage public camping by homeless individuals. The legislation requires city laws regulating activities such as sitting, lying, sleeping, or keeping warm and dry outdoors on public property to be "objectively reasonable" in terms of time, place, and manner. It also provides an affirmative defense for those experiencing homelessness, emphasizing the need for regulations to respect their rights and needs while balancing the broader community's use of public spaces. The outcomes of legal cases like Grants Pass v. Johnson and the implementation of legislation like HB 3115 in Oregon could have far-reaching implications for how cities and states address homelessness while balancing the rights of homeless individuals with the needs of the broader community. https://lnkd.in/de2QYBT8

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In October, Florida will become the latest state to ban homeless camping. Starting in January, any city that does not enforce the ban can be sued, by the State Attorney General or by a local business or resident."We're gonna have clean sidewalks. We're gonna have clean parks. We're gonna have safe streets," said Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, when he signed the new law in March.If there are not enough beds available in homeless shelters, the law will also let cities designate their own temporary shelter sites, something former President Trump supports and has called "relocation camps."Florida is among a handful of states that has passed tougher laws on homelessness in recent years — including Kentucky and Texas — and lawmakers in about a dozen states have debated such legislation. Most all of them are taking guidance from the lobbying arm of a conservative Texas-based think tank, which aims to upend homelessness policies that have had bipartisan support for two decades.Read Full Article: https://lnkd.in/ecMdyBBw

Impact NW sums it up well. Our society pushes people Involuntarily into homelessness then criminalizes them for it. It is inhumane, costly, and ineffective to criminalize being homeless. We need to have evidence-based sustainable solutions like the one put forward by Impact NW

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The Supreme Court's decision is a setback for compassion and humanity. Criminalizing homelessness is not a solution; it only exacerbates the crisis that has deepened under Mayor Todd Gloria's failed leadership.Under Mayor Gloria, San Diego has witnessed a 45% increase in homelessness. His decisions, including the mismanagement of over $200 million on ineffective strategies, have failed to address the root causes of homelessness. This administration has wasted taxpayer money without using metrics of success to evaluate the effectiveness of their plans.My plan focuses on investing in permanent supportive and affordable housing. We need a comprehensive strategy that provides long-term stability and support for homeless individuals to rebuild their lives.I will provide detailed reports on our progress, ensuring that resources are effectively utilized. Through community engagement and stakeholder collaboration, we will develop strategies that address homelessness while upholding our values of compassion and justice.Together, we will continue to fight for a city where every individual has the opportunity to thrive. Let us stand united in creating a safer and more compassionate San Diego.https://lnkd.in/extyqDhk