The U.S. Supreme Court upheld an Oregon city’s anti-camping ordinances Friday against a challenge from homeless residents who alleged the laws penalized them for being homeless.
Oregon Anti Camping Backing : Background of the Case
The two anti-camping ordinances enacted by Grants Pass, Oregon, came under scrutiny after a class of homeless residents argued that the ordinances effectively banned homelessness, violating the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. The city contended that its laws only prohibit the act of camping in public spaces, rather than targeting the status of homelessness.
Counsel for the Grants Pass residents argued on April 22 that the ordinances in question implicate high court precedent in Robinson v. California, which struck down a law criminalizing the status of addiction. They asserted that under the 1962 ruling, any status-based crimes amount to cruel and unusual punishment.
Shelter Shortages and Harsh Conditions
Grants Pass currently lacks sufficient shelter beds for its entire homeless population, estimated at around 600 individuals, with fewer than 100 beds operated by a religious organization. The severe Oregon weather conditions force people without shelter to use blankets or face hypothermia, placing them in violation of the anti-camping ordinances.
