This chapter explores the legal battle between three homeless individuals and the city of Grants Pass, Oregon, over ordinances criminalizing homelessness. It discusses the impact of local measures on homeless populations, the lack of available shelter beds, and the cycle of entrenchment in homelessness created by fines and park bans. The chapter highlights the tension between city regulations and the constitutional rights of homeless individuals, paralleling the case with Martin v. Boise as a key legal reference point.
Debates over homeless encampments in the United States have intensified as their number has surged. To tackle the problem, some cities have enforced bans on public camping.
As the Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments about whether such actions are legal, Abbie VanSickle, who covers the court for The Times, discusses the case and its far-reaching implications.
Guest: Abbie VanSickle, a Supreme Court correspondent for The New York Times.
Background reading:
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