This last Friday the Supreme Court released its ruling on the Grants Pass Case. This ruling makes it legal for cities and towns to criminalize homelessness– arresting people for sleeping in public even when communities have no shelter beds or other viable places for people to go. The Youth Success Project strongly objects to this ruling. As young people who have experienced homelessness, some of us sleeping in public spaces, we know that criminalization is NOT the answer.

 

• When we are harassed and charged for just trying to survive it becomes even harder for us to gain housing, employment, and get our needs met. 

• Young people like us will be more likely to stay in dangerous places or domestic violence/trafficking situations because we fear being arrested. 

• Criminalization also disproportionately impacts marginalized communities including young people who are Black, Hispanic, American Indian, or Alaska Native; and those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. These communities are already overrepresented in both the homeless and incarcerated populations.

• This ruling is not only cruel and unusual punishment, but directly opposes common sense and evidence based practices shown to help reduce and end youth and adult homelessness. 

While this ruling allows for criminalization of homelessness even when there are no shelter beds available, we know that shelters are NOT the answer for everyone, especially young people. We believe that homelessness can only be ended through the creation of a menu of services that allows for young people to access care and support while being allowed to make choices about what will work best for them.