With homelessness on the rise, the Supreme Court weighs bans on sleeping outdoors

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has wrestled with major questions about the growing issue of homelessness as it considers whether cities can ban people from sleeping outside when shelter space is lacking. Monday’s (April 22, 2024) case is considered the most significant on homelessness to come before the high court in decades. In California and other Western states, courts have ruled it’s unconstitutional to fine and arrest people sleeping in homeless encampments if shelter space is lacking. Officials contend that makes it difficult to manage encampments. The case comes from Grants Pass, Oregon, which started fining people $295 for sleeping outside. Advocates argue punishing people who need a place to sleep will make the crisis worse.