National Alliance to End Homelessness Joins Housing and Homelessness Organizations On Historic Day in Support of Gloria Johnson
Washington, D.C., April 19, 2024 — On April 22, the Supreme Court of the United States will hear oral arguments on the case of City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Gloria Johnson. This is the first major case on homelessness to be heard by the Supreme Court since the 1980s and could set a precedent to allow communities to ticket or fine individuals living outside who have no safe alternative to turn to for housing.
As part of a day of action rally, the National Alliance to End Homelessness joins other housing and homelessness organizations to stand on the side of Ms. Johnson, affirming that unhoused people should not be subject to fines or arrests for existing in outdoor public spaces when there is not adequate shelter or housing available.
The rally, organized by the National Homelessness Law Center, will feature homeless activists, organizers, and advocates speaking on the impact of this case and what will happen if the Court rules in favor of either Johnson or Grants Pass. The Court is expected to rule on the case in June. More information on the rally can be found here.
In response to the oral arguments, the National Alliance to End Homelessness CEO Ann Oliva provided the following statement:
“We know that communities are better and stronger for everyone when all its residents have a safe and affordable place to call home. We also know that our nation’s current affordable housing crisis, and the resulting increases in unsheltered homelessness, has been building for decades. Elected leaders must act to fund and implement evidence-based approaches to these crises that impact some of our nation’s most vulnerable and marginalized residents, including people of color, people with disabilities, LGBTQ people and, increasingly, older adults.
Policy makers should adopt short-term strategies – like outreach, behavioral health and health services, and housing focused shelter – to keep people safe and as healthy as possible, while the long-term solutions – safe and affordable housing and services – are built and implemented.
As the elected officials of Grants Pass, Oregon and elsewhere confront these daunting challenges, they are uniquely empowered to use their influence to advocate for federal, state, and local leaders to step up with the resources that could prevent and end homelessness in America.
The Alliance will be watching this case closely in hopes that it brings a much-needed focus to the evidence-based solutions to homelessness. We hope that local, state and federal government decision-makers act with urgency to strengthen the social safety net and appropriately fund affordable housing resources.”
About the National Alliance to End Homelessness
The National Alliance to End Homelessness is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, organization committed to preventing and ending homelessness in the United States. As a leading voice on the issue of homelessness, the Alliance analyzes policy and develops pragmatic, cost-effective policy solutions; works collaboratively with the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to build state and local capacity; and provides data and research to policymakers and elected officials in order to inform policy debates and educate the public and opinion leaders nationwide.