Johnson v Grants Pass: SCOTUS Rules To Further Penalize Individuals Facing Housing Insecurity
Today the Supreme Court rejected a constitutional challenge to policies enacted by the city of Grants Pass that punish individuals experiencing homelessness for sleeping on public property when they have no other place to go. While cities already have the power to regulate homeless encampments, this gives additional support to ordinances that enforce fines and incarceration of individuals. The Supreme Court ruled that these measures do not violate the Eighth Amendment, barring cruel and unusual punishment.
Ignite was founded in 1976 after the 1974 Runaway Youth Act passed as Title lll of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act – decriminalizing runaway youth and providing funding for programs to serve youth at the greatest risk of harm.
Today, we still believe in the founding principles of Ignite; that housing is a human right and individuals experiencing housing instability are our most vulnerable community members. We understand and support the need for cities to maintain safe, thriving public spaces but recognize that rulings that do not honor humane and just solutions will not lead to the end of homelessness.
Our partners at the National Network for Youth have shared: “There are 4.2 million youth and young adults experiencing homelessness who are particularly vulnerable to the consequences of this ruling. These young people often encounter age-specific barriers to finding adequate shelters, such as the scarcity of youth shelter beds, narrow eligibility requirements, and prioritization for populations other than youth. That means, if a young person cannot find safe and appropriate shelter, they can be arrested for not being able to access age-appropriate services.”
We call on federal, state, and city leaders to create long-lasting solutions to prevent and end homelessness as opposed to criminalizing individuals experiencing housing instability. Penalizing an individual for experiencing this type of trauma is harmful and does nothing to create pathways to building safer communities and affordable housing. Instead, it puts at jeopardy evidence-based practices that prove to be successful in helping individuals become housed.
Ignite will continue to advocate for programs and policies that lift up youth and communities and provide real solutions that prevent and end homelessness - creating thriving, safe places for all.
Stephanie Piccirilli
President & CEO, Ignite
Actions You Can Take Right Now
Send an E-Mail to Congress
Now more than ever, it’s important Congress understands both the scope of youth homelessness and how they can end it. Encourage your representatives to support the legislation below by clicking on the bill and following the outlined steps to send an email.
1. Homeless Children and Youth Act (H.R. 5221) will change the definition of homelessness, ensuring young people are counted, heard, and supported.
2. Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act of 2023 (S.3125/H.R. 6041)) will update the existing Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) program, which provides services for young people experiencing homelessness.
3. FY 2025 Appropriations Requests will increase funding for key federal youth homelessness programs.
Ignite uses a nationally recognized system of continued care that focuses on the individual and helps over 590 young people annually through a spectrum of services from street outreach, drop-in centers, and emergency shelter to transitional and independent apartment-based housing. To learn more, donate, or volunteer with Ignite, please visit ignitepromise.org or contact Andi Dumas at adumas@ignitepromise.org