Supreme Court to Review Local Restrictions on Homeless Encampments

The Supreme Court has agreed to consider whether a city's enforcement of rules prohibiting homeless residents from camping on public property violates the Constitution's protection from cruel and unusual punishment. The case arises from Grants Pass, Oregon, where three ordinances prohibit sleeping on public sidewalks or streets and camping on streets, parks, or other publicly owned property. Homeless residents sued the city, arguing that the ordinances unconstitutionally punished them for seeking shelter, as the city lacks adequate shelter for its homeless population. The 9th Circuit ruled against the city, finding that the ordinances violate the Eighth Amendment, and the Supreme Court's decision will have implications for other states within the 9th Circuit's jurisdiction, including California and Arizona.