We at Prevention Point Philadelphia are deeply saddened and concerned by the Supreme Court's ruling on the Grants Pass case.
On Friday, June 28, the Supreme Court voted to uphold the Oregon city's ban on outdoor sleeping. This decision has dangerous implications for individuals facing homelessness and housing insecurity nationwide. Regardless of housing status, all people need sleep to survive. If there is no safe shelter available, sleeping in public spaces becomes the only option. Moreover, criminalizing sleeping outdoors also disrupts the few supportive systems available to unhoused people. For many, living outdoors during the process to become eligible for stable housing is a source of community, and a conduit to medical and social services.
The ban punishes people who are already struggling. If we want to end homelessness—regardless of any service enhancements or other supports—we need more permanent, affordable housing units so that people do not have to live outside. Laws criminalizing the status of being unhoused will not help people come inside nor will they create affordable housing units, especially in communities seeing huge rent increases. We echo Justice Sotomayor in saying that this decision is nothing short of "unconscionable."