The June 28, 2024 Supreme Court decision in the City of Grants Pass v. Johnson case blatantly criminalizes homelessness and perpetuates the inequities that unhoused people already face. I feel it is our duty to bring light to this issue that has been severely underreported yet has profound impact on the lives of the most vulnerable among us: the unhoused.

This decision not only violates basic human rights but also implies that individuals can be penalized for situations beyond their control. It discounts the systemic barriers that contribute to the homelessness crisis: economic downturns, lack of affordable housing, unemployment, mental health issues, and many more. It reinforces a dangerous precedent whereby individuals in involuntary statuses are subjected to further criminal punishment.

Statistics show that homelessness is a nationwide issue. Instead of criminalizing the circumstances, the government should redirect its focus on providing support for these individuals. This includes creating housing solutions, providing employment support and ensuring individual security.

Let's demand an increased focus on eliminating homelessness in the United States. It is high time our representatives acknowledge the already difficult predicament of the unhoused and consider more empathetic, supportive measures in dealing with homelessness. Please sign this petition to stand against the criminalization of homelessness and to affirm our belief in the right to housing for all.

Please do more by writing to your representatives and sharing this petition!!

Learn more:

https://www.oyez.org/cases/2023/23-175​

https://www.enterprisecommunity.org/blog/ending-homelessness-america?gad_source=1​

https://www.themarshallproject.org/2024/04/10/supreme-court-homeless-grants-pass-originalism?gad_source=1