Bring America Home Now

The National Coalition has devoted most of our resources to organizing around one of the most impactful decisions to impact people experiencing homelessness in 40 years. In a profoundly disappointing ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court today decided that it is constitutional to arrest or fine homeless individuals for using survival items like blankets or pillows in public spaces when no alternative shelter is available.

“The Supreme Court decision has set a dangerous precedent, allowing cities to continue to criminalize homelessness instead of addressing the root causes of the issue. People experiencing homelessness should not be punished for their circumstances; all levels of the government have a responsibility to protect the most vulnerable members of society.

Donald H. Whitehead, Jr., executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless states, “How a society treats its most vulnerable members reflects its values, priorities, and commitment to social justice. Criminalization has consequences. This decision will result in higher costs, more suffering, and death. The Supreme Court’s supreme injustice deeply saddens us.”

In Justice Sotomayor’s dissent, the justice states that the ruling “leaves the most vulnerable in our society with an impossible choice: Either stay awake or be arrested.” Further, Sotomayor says, “I remain hopeful that someday in the near future, this Court will play its role in safeguarding constitutional liberties for the most vulnerable among us. Because the Court today abdicates that role, I respectfully dissent.”

As the dissent states, the Court’s decision today ignores the need to protect people currently experiencing homelessness from harassment, violent attacks, or targeted enforcement of local ordinances.

Housing ends homelessness. The National Coalition for the Homeless, in partnership with the National Coalition for Housing Justice, calls on federal elected officials to invest significantly in housing now. For over 40 years, we have seen federal affordable housing programs decimated, and it is time to transform the trajectory of our housing policy.

As a down payment to ensure that everybody has safe, decent housing that they can afford, we call for:

• Universal rental assistance for lowest-income households
• Public housing repair and preservation
• Full funding of the National Housing Trust Fund
• Eviction and Homelessness Prevention
• Voluntary supportive and emergency services

The long-term investment in our communities and country requires recognizing that robust social housing will end homelessness.

Despite this Supreme Court ruling, we know that housing, not handcuffs, solves homelessness, and we will continue our work to ensure that everyone, regardless of race or background, has the housing they need to thrive.

Links:

• Grants Pass

Over the last year, the National Coalition has developed a plan to move from advocacy to action.  We were not aware at the time of how necessary action would become.  In February, we were informed that on April 22nd, the United States Supreme Court would be hearing a case entitled Jackson vs Grants Pass.  The case involves a small town in Oregon that lacks enough shelter to prevent people from sleeping outside.  The case is a response to Martin v Bosise, which makes it illegal to criminalize homelessness without enough shelter space.

The practice of criminalizing people for being forced into homelessness is a violation of the 8th Amendment, which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment.  People are being fined and jailed for being homeless as if their homelessness is a choice.  We are fundamentally against people sleeping outside, but we recognize that Housing is the Solution and that criminalization only exacerbates the issue.   

Laws outlawing homeless and other life-sustaining activities are now in place in over 187 cities and 48 states.  In Tenessee, it is a felony to be homeless with the possibility of up to 6 years in jail.  In Kentucky, it is now legal to utilize stand-your-ground laws against people experiencing homelessness.  You can now use force, including deadly force, against those experiencing homelessness.

TNCH and its partner are organizing to show SCOTUS that there is fierce opposition to making homelessness a crime.  We look forward to seeing all of you join us in Washington, DC, on April 22nd and join us in solidarity with your community. Please visit our website for more information: www.nationalhomeless.org.