Covenant House International’s Post

When viewed side-by-side, investing in evidence-based homeless services is far more effective than criminalization. A new analysis from National Alliance to End Homelessness compares the two approaches. https://lnkd.in/g6w-SmkB #JohnsonVGrantsPass.

Arguments start today for #JohnsonvGrantsPass, the most significant case to reach #SCOTUS on homelessness in a long time. The case will, in essence, determine whether homelessness can be criminalized, potentially overriding the Appeals Court decision in Martin v Boise, which has protected the right to sleep outside when no other shelter options are available. I have seen Martin v Boise be skirted relentlessly, and can only imagine the outcomes if cities are empowered to fine and imprison folks for lacking housing. Actions will be occurring nationwide, go to https://lnkd.in/gtgrE_Me to find ways to support.

#SCOTUS' decision on #JohnsonVGrantsPass allows local governments to punish people for sleeping outside when they have nowhere else to go, even though experts agree that criminalizing homelessness only makes it harder to solve. Luckily, the rest of this week’s news has the Bay Area poised to double down on proven solutions to homelessness. ✔ On Tuesday, we released our Regional Action Plan that serves as a roadmap to making homelessness rare, brief and one-time. ✔ On Wednesday, MTC voted to put a $20 billion affordable housing bond measure on the November ballot of all Bay Area counties. ✔ On Thursday, the Legislature voted to put structural change to enable housing solutions on the ballot statewide through ACA 10. Despite the disappointing ruling made earlier today, we cannot afford to let it distract us from the proven solutions right in front of us. Let’s come together and choose a better future for the Bay Area, where everyone in our region can stay here and thrive. https://lnkd.in/gz9ZDqKP

I am (sadly) unsurprised by the Supreme Court's recent decision here. But it is a particularly hideous and cruel reaction in the face of a widening wealth gap, affordable housing crisis, overdose crisis, banning equity and inclusion practices, anti-queer legislation...the list goes on and on. I've done a lot of advocacy and work with unhoused people over the years and can tell you that individual people choose to sleep outside for any number of reasons: lack of shelter beds, lack of safety, shelter rules that make it impossible for people who use drugs to enter the shelter, no community support...again, the list goes on and on. But it really boils down to systemic failures like lack of supportive housing, lack of affordable housing, lack of transitional housing, and shelters/warming centers etc that do not have the staffing capacity to meet the unique needs of people with complex trauma. The failure is on our poorly designed systems, not on individual people working in various parts of this broken system, and certainly not on individual people doing what they can to survive (is sleep not a basic human right?). I feel lucky to live in a community that is doing a lot to care for the needs of unhoused people and lucky to work alongside tireless advocates who care deeply about the needs of this population but not everyone is so lucky. This ruling will have ripple effects that will further malign an already stigmatized population that (rightfully) distrusts the many systems they must engage with in order to access care, a place to sleep, and so many other basic needs. I realize I'm (mostly) preaching to the choir by sharing these imperfectly formed thoughts with my network, but I encourage people to show up in your communities to advocate for the needs of unhoused people and see what your community is doing to provide services for unhoused people. It matters because unhoused people matter and do not deserve to be criminalized for poverty. Most of us are closer to homelessness than we are to millionaire status and I encourage us all to see this is OUR fight. We have to be in it together. https://lnkd.in/eJZ3yZmG

On April 22, 2024, the US Supreme Court will convene to consider the pivotal case of Johnson v Grants Pass, marking a watershed moment in the legal landscape surrounding homelessness, criminalization, and the rights of unsheltered individuals. This landmark case holds profound significance as it grapples with the fundamental question of whether cities can lawfully penalize individuals for engaging in basic activities such as sleeping, sitting, or residing outdoors with minimal shelter options available. At its essence, this legal battle has far-reaching implications, delving into the heart of the debate on the criminalization of poverty and its severe consequences. The verdict stands to shape policies across the country and here in Greenville County, South Carolina. Our ask is that public and private partners continue to work together collaboratively. Homelessness is a complex issue, but we believe it is solvable when we work together as a connected community. The Greenville Homeless Alliance aims to facilitate conversations with local municipalities and Greenville County Council, those impacted by homelessness, and organizations that offer best-practice solutions. #gvlhomes4all #grantspassoregon #supremecourtjustice #endhomelessness #greenvillesc #gvltoday #collectiveimpact

NRCDV is disappointed and concerned by the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling last week in Grants Pass v. Johnson. The Court’s decision to allow criminalization of homelessness will penalize victims of domestic violence for making the often life-saving decision to flee from a violent partner. We join our partner organizations in the gender-based violence and homelessness movements in their call to state and local governments: Do not criminalize survival. Uphold the rights of people who are unhoused, including survivors of domestic violence. Rather than arresting those in need, our focus needs to be on addressing the housing crisis and systemic barriers that lead to homelessness. View our full statement: https://ow.ly/HBf150StNsO Learn more about the current crisis of insufficient accessible, safe, and affordable housing options from the National Low Income Housing Coalition's recent report: https://ow.ly/logE50StOzH

Today, #SCOTUS will begin to hear oral arguments in the case of #JohnsonvGrantsPass. This case could make it legal for a local government to arrest or fine people for sleeping outside even when adequate shelter is not available, despite all the evidence that shows criminalizing homelessness only makes the problem worse. Arresting people for sleeping on the streets only keeps people homeless for longer and distracts from the solutions to homelessness that we know work, like allocating more resources to building affordable housing and supporting organizations that provide services and relief to neighbors in need. We'll continue to share information as this case unfolds in the Supreme Court, but we encourage everyone to use this as an opportunity to engage in discussions with your friends, families, co-workers and neighbors about the solutions to homelessness we know work, and why we as a nation might declare a war on poor people instead of poverty. #HomelessnessIsSolvable

As of today, local and state governments can pass laws and ordinances making homelessness a crime, arrest vulnerable individuals who are experiencing homelessness, and prosecute them for the trauma of being homeless. Learn more: https://ow.ly/N17y50Ss3jR Now more than ever, housing resources and shelters are critical to the health, well-being, and long-term success of the most vulnerable members of our community. Support House of Hope: https://ow.ly/82Cr50Ss3jO

Housing, not Handcuffs. At its core, the Grants Pass v. Johnson Supreme Court case asks whether ticketing & arresting unhoused people for trying to survive when there are no other options is cruel and unusual punishment. It is. The research is irrefutable: access to affordable, stable housing and supportive services is the most effective approach to ending homelessness. It is a bipartisan, evidence-based practice backed by multiple, national studies. The underlying cause of America’s housing and homelessness crisis is the severe shortage of homes affordable to people with the lowest incomes and a widening gap between incomes and housing costs. Criminalization makes it harder for people to exit homelessness. Instead, we need to invest in proven and humane solutions. Criminalization is not a solution to homelessness. Imposing fines and jail time is counterproductive, expensive, and dehumanizing. States & leaders should follow the evidence on what works. #EndingHomelessnessAct #HousingCrisisResponseAct #EvictionCrisisAct #housingnothandcuffs Learn more about the case & how to get involved: https://lnkd.in/ePJ7kSZW https://lnkd.in/eVdwCsbe

In case one needed more evidence that Housing First is a failure with catastrophic results, please read the attached article. Housing First is two things: 1. a repositioning from a continuum of options for all people to PSH for chronically homelessness only and 2. an eligibility screen that excludes children & PREVENTS PREVENTION and early intervention. We can - we must - restore the Awardwinning Continuum of Care.