Homelessness is a serious problem across the nation, and the question of how cities and states can legally deal with tent cities and other encampments has become a huge focus for local governments. On April 22, Supreme Court justices discussed the Grants Pass v. Johnson case, in which some homeless filed a suit against the Oregon city, claiming that making sleeping outdoors illegal is a violation of the 8th Amendment. The case was heard last year by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which ruled that banning homeless camps is “cruel and unusual punishment.” However, now the Supreme Court is looking it over to decide, among other things, if such decisions should even be made at the federal level.
Homeless vs Public Safety
The more than two-hour hearing considered two main points: whether there is a constitutional provision to allow local governments…
