Cities Unite in Urging Supreme Court to Address Homeless Camping Issue

The Municipality of Anchorage has joined a coalition of cities and jurisdictions in asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review a federal court ruling that has limited their ability to enforce bans on homeless camping on public land. The ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit protects the rights of homeless individuals to camp outdoors on municipal property when there is no alternative indoor shelter available. Critics argue that the ruling has hindered local governments' ability to address the homelessness crisis effectively. The Supreme Court declined to take up the case in 2019, but the growing criticism has prompted a renewed effort to challenge the ruling.