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Supreme Court's 6-3 Ruling Allows Cities to Enforce Bans on Homeless Sleeping Outdoors

Jun 29, 2024, 06:00 AM

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Friday that cities can enforce bans on homeless people sleeping outdoors, even in areas where shelter space is lacking. The decision, which came in a 6-3 ruling, overturned a lower court's decision that such bans violated the Eighth Amendment's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. The case, City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson, has significant implications for cities across the country, particularly in California and Oregon, where homelessness is a critical issue. The ruling has been met with mixed reactions. Some local officials, like San Francisco Mayor London Breed, plan to use the ruling to increase sweeps of homeless encampments, while critics, including Justice Sonia Sotomayor in her dissent, argue that the decision criminalizes homelessness and fails to address the root causes of the crisis. Advocates for the homeless warn that the ruling could lead to more aggressive enforcement actions and further marginalize vulnerable populations.