Statement from United Way Bay Area Interim Chief Executive Officer Kelly Batson on Criminalization of Homelessness (re: Grants Pass v. Johnson Supreme Court case):
The Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling imminently on Grants Pass v. Johnson, a historic case criminalizing homelessness. The case is a blatant attack on our unhoused neighbors, and will only further entrench underrepresented communities in poverty.
If the majority of Supreme Court Justices side with the City of Grants Pass, OR, states and cities across the country will have permission to punish people who sleep outside by ticketing or arresting them. This will make it even more difficult for people to exit homelessness.
Criminalization disproportionately harms Black and Indigenous people, who are overly represented among those who experience homelessness due to longstanding, systemic racism in housing. The number one cause of homelessness in the United States is the chronic shortage of housing that is affordable for the majority of our residents.
In the Bay Area, over one in three households do not earn sufficient income to make ends meet. This ruling will impact the 250,000+ people living outside nationwide, as well as the millions of Americans who are just one missed paycheck away from homelessness. Punishing poverty only makes homelessness worse.
Relying on jails and fines will never solve the homelessness crisis, but providing people with housing and services will. United Way Bay Area will be paying close attention to the ruling when it comes from the Supreme Court, and we will continue to advocate for our region’s unhoused and housing-insecure neighbors. We denounce criminalizing homelessness.
We fight for housing justice that supports people experiencing homelessness and promotes affordable housing developments that prevent homelessness.
Thank you to our Ambassadors (featured in this video)! Malgorzata Kopiniak Rachel Reese Jamie Kearns Juan Salinas Rose Kilgore