As encampments of the unhoused are destroyed by cities across the country, the criminalization of homelessness is headed to the U.S. Supreme Court. On April 22, the Court will hear Johnson v. Grants Pass, the most significant Supreme Court case about homelessness criminalization and the rights of homeless people in decades. It will decide if cities can punish people for sleeping outside with a pillow or blanket—for essentially being homeless—even when there are no shelter options.
James, an unhoused man who was ordered to sweep his encampment in 72 hours, said, “They’re not going to give me a quarter, nickel, dime — nothing — they just say get out!”
Freeway, a former resident at the now dismantled Oakland Wood Street Commons, told a housing rally in Sacramento, California at the State Capitol in March, “What the government is implementing, these restrictive policies they’re imposing on us are nothing short of warfare, class war. And the evidence is in. The people we know and love are deteriorating every single day, mentally, physically, with upwards of 13 people we’ve lost since the eviction, the casualties of this war. When we’re fighting the fight, try to keep the 13 people in your heart and have compassion.” Housing Now!
Join the movement that knows housing solves homelessness! Read more about the Supreme Court hearings coming up and find out how you can help: Go to: johnsonvgrantspass.com/how-you-can-help
