"U.S. Supreme Court Gains Momentum in Major Homelessness Case"
The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear a case regarding homeless encampments, with implications for cities nationwide as homelessness has reached record highs. The case challenges a 9th Circuit Court decision that deemed it unconstitutional to punish "involuntarily homeless" individuals for sleeping outside when there aren't enough shelter beds. The Department of Justice and members of Congress have filed briefs urging the justices to overturn the decision, while social justice advocates argue against criminalizing homelessness. The surge in encampments is a response to a dramatic 12% increase in homelessness last year, with over half of the homeless population concentrated in four states. The case has garnered support from city, county, and state officials across the West, with oral arguments scheduled for April 22.