The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 Friday in the controversial case of Grants Pass v. Johnson that imposing restrictions on where homeless people sleep and where they can sleep does not constitute a “cruel and unusual” criminalization of homelessness. The decision is supported by city leaders in San Francisco who have condemned the restrictions imposed on them regarding encampments.
The court ruled that it was constitutional to criminalize sleeping on the streets of the city, even if the city had not provided an alternative place for the person to sleep.
The case is being closely watched in San Francisco because of the city’s highly visible homeless population and its ban on clearing encampments unless a sincere offer of shelter is first made. However, this offer is rejected by the displaced people.
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The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office agreed Friday that the decision has “significant implications” for the city.
“San Francisco will continue to take a compassionate, service-oriented approach to addressing our homelessness crisis,” the DA’s office said. “It will take time to analyze this decision and chart a path forward to change policy on the ground and ensure that our lawsuits catch up with today’s Supreme Court decision.”
Litigants on both sides of the case — the advocacy group Coalition on Homelessness and the city of San Francisco — filed amicus or “friend of the court” briefs with the Supreme Court arguing their respective positions.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed praised the ruling.
“This Supreme Court decision will help cities like San Francisco manage our public spaces more effectively and efficiently,” she said in a statement from her office Friday, adding that her administration has made “significant investments in shelter and housing.”
“Too often, these offers are rejected. We must enforce our laws, especially to prevent long-term camps,” she said.
Gov. Gavin Newsom also spoke out about the decision on Friday.
“This decision removes the legal ambiguities that have tied the hands of local officials for years and limited their ability to take sensible measures to protect the safety and well-being of our communities,” he said in a statement.
