Health Care for the Homeless’ Post

*Timeline For The Case: April 22nd: Oral arguments and in-person rally at the Supreme Court. June 30th: End of court term. A decision will be made by this date. '......In April, the United States Supreme Court will hear the Johnson v. Grants Pass case. This is the most significant Supreme Court case about homelessness criminalization and the rights of homeless people in decades. At its core, this case will decide whether cities can punish people for things like sleeping outside with a pillow or blanket, even when there are no safe shelter options.   We can win this case and at the same time, we can build the movement that knows we can only solve homelessness with housing and supportive services. But, to do that, we need your help. Here are ways to get involved.....': *Join us for a rally in DC on the day of the oral arguments (~April 22-24th)  #homeless #atriskhomelessness #homelessness #unhoused #buyhomelessahouse #buyatriskhomelessahouse https://lnkd.in/d7cCZFS8

Today, the Supreme Court will hear the most important case about homelessness in 40 years. Johnson v. Grants Pass will determine whether cities can punish people for things like sleeping outside with a pillow or blanket, even when there are no safe shelter options. Criminalizing homelessness is cruel, ineffective, and distracts from real solutions like housing and supportive services. Learn more about this landmark case at johnsonvgrantspass.com, follow National Homelessness Law Center, and check out National Network for Youth’s breakdown of how this ruling will affect youth experiencing homelessness!

Arguments start today for #JohnsonvGrantsPass, the most significant case to reach #SCOTUS on homelessness in a long time. The case will, in essence, determine whether homelessness can be criminalized, potentially overriding the Appeals Court decision in Martin v Boise, which has protected the right to sleep outside when no other shelter options are available. I have seen Martin v Boise be skirted relentlessly, and can only imagine the outcomes if cities are empowered to fine and imprison folks for lacking housing. Actions will be occurring nationwide, go to https://lnkd.in/gtgrE_Me to find ways to support.

Mental health matters…

The supreme court’s decision criminalizes acts of being homeless which has dire consequences for #GenderBasedViolence survivors who are unhoused. The City of Grants Pass v. Johnson case looked at whether cities are allowed to ban homeless people from sleeping in public spaces and penalize them despite having nowhere else to go. The ruling in favor of Grants Pass gives cities more power to arrest, cite and fine people who sleep outside in public places. This worsens the plight of already vulnerable individuals without addressing root causes of homelessness. We know #GBV can cause, contribute, or perpetuate housing instability. and is recognized as the leading cause of housing instability for women. Up to 57% of all homeless women report domestic violence as the immediate cause of their homelessness.  The #JohnsonVGrantsPass decision creates further barriers to survivors accessing safe housing by making it even more difficult to leave an abusive relationship because of fear of penalties if there is not a shelter bed available at the moment a survivor is able to flee. Survivors often cannot plan in advance for when they are able to leave, given the ongoing violence and threats to bodily harm that they face in their home. When shelter beds are not available, survivors stay unsheltered, in cars, or in other places not fit for human habitation as they await shelter availability. For those survivors that need access to emergency shelter in Illinois, please contact the Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline at 877-863-6338, and we will work to connect you to a safe shelter space. 

Housing ends homelessness. Too many are forced to find shelter in public places with only a blanket and pillow. This isn't a choice—it's a harsh reality stemming from a nationwide shortage of safe, affordable housing. The upcoming #SCOTUS case, Johnson v. Grants Pass, poses a crucial question: Do we address #homelessness with punishment or support? Visit johnsonvgrantspass.com to learn more.

On April 22, 2024, the US Supreme Court will convene to consider the pivotal case of Johnson v Grants Pass, marking a watershed moment in the legal landscape surrounding homelessness, criminalization, and the rights of unsheltered individuals. This landmark case holds profound significance as it grapples with the fundamental question of whether cities can lawfully penalize individuals for engaging in basic activities such as sleeping, sitting, or residing outdoors with minimal shelter options available. At its essence, this legal battle has far-reaching implications, delving into the heart of the debate on the criminalization of poverty and its severe consequences. The verdict stands to shape policies across the country and here in Greenville County, South Carolina. Our ask is that public and private partners continue to work together collaboratively. Homelessness is a complex issue, but we believe it is solvable when we work together as a connected community. The Greenville Homeless Alliance aims to facilitate conversations with local municipalities and Greenville County Council, those impacted by homelessness, and organizations that offer best-practice solutions. #gvlhomes4all #grantspassoregon #supremecourtjustice #endhomelessness #greenvillesc #gvltoday #collectiveimpact

Housing, not Handcuffs. At its core, the Grants Pass v. Johnson Supreme Court case asks whether ticketing & arresting unhoused people for trying to survive when there are no other options is cruel and unusual punishment. It is. The research is irrefutable: access to affordable, stable housing and supportive services is the most effective approach to ending homelessness. It is a bipartisan, evidence-based practice backed by multiple, national studies. The underlying cause of America’s housing and homelessness crisis is the severe shortage of homes affordable to people with the lowest incomes and a widening gap between incomes and housing costs. Criminalization makes it harder for people to exit homelessness. Instead, we need to invest in proven and humane solutions. Criminalization is not a solution to homelessness. Imposing fines and jail time is counterproductive, expensive, and dehumanizing. States & leaders should follow the evidence on what works. #EndingHomelessnessAct #HousingCrisisResponseAct #EvictionCrisisAct #housingnothandcuffs Learn more about the case & how to get involved: https://lnkd.in/ePJ7kSZW https://lnkd.in/eVdwCsbe