On Monday, the Supreme Court heard arguments in a case that could have major implications for the rights of homeless people in the United States. The case, City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, challenges a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that struck down an ordinance criminalizing sleeping in public places. During the hearing, homeless advocates, including the American Civil Liberties Union, argued that living on the streets is a “victimless” crime. However, opponents of the ordinance, such as former New York Lieutenant Governor Betsy McCaughey, argue that the homeless pose a public safety hazard and that cities should be allowed to ban them from sleeping on public property. McCaughey points to data showing that the homeless are more likely than the general population to commit violent crimes and that homeless encampments can lead to increased crime, fires, and disease. She also argues that the ordinance does not criminalize homelessness itself, but rather the deliberate decision to sleep rough instead of going to a shelter.
The outcome of the case could have a significant impact on cities across the country. If the Supreme Court upholds the Ninth Circuit ruling, cities will be barred from criminalizing sleeping on public property. However, if the Court strikes down the ruling, cities will be free to pass their own ordinances banning homeless encampments.
The case is being closely watched by municipalities across the United States, as well as by homeless advocates and civil rights groups. The Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling in the case later this year.
