The Supreme Court's decision is a shameful reflection of justice and a setback in our work to end homelessness.

The Supreme Court's decision is a shameful reflection of justice and a setback in our work to end homelessness.

Cleveland, OH – The Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH) strongly condemns the Supreme Court’s decision in City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson to allow jurisdictions to arrest and ticket unhoused people for sleeping outside, even when adequate shelter or housing is not available. 

“Criminalization is counterproductive. Arrests, fines, jail time, and criminal records make it more difficult for individuals experiencing homelessness to access affordable housing, health services, and employment necessary to exit homelessness” says Josiah Quarles – Director of Organizing and Advocacy. “Policy makers should instead work with urgency to scale up proven solutions, starting with greater investments in affordable housing and supportive services.” 

Decades of work in our community has demonstrated that the most effective approach to addressing homelessness is to provide individuals with immediate access to stable, affordable housing and voluntary supportive services, such as case management, mental health and substance use services, and employment services to help improve housing stability and well-being. This model – known as “Housing First” – has been our community's approach since 2002.  

“Locally, our city has begun to invest resources to end unsheltered homelessness. We are hopeful that our elected officials and community leaders will not resort to criminalization and incarceration to solve homelessness.” says Chris Knestrick, - Executive Director of NEOCH. “We are a Housing First community and that must include a Homeless Bill of Rights to protect our local community members from potential infringements on their right to exist. When the right housing options and engagement practices are implemented, everyone can get off the streets.”  

To fully address the affordable housing and homelessness crisis, Congress must invest at the scale needed to ensure that renters with the lowest incomes have an affordable place to call home. Investments are needed to bridge the gap between incomes and housing costs through universal rental assistance, build and preserve rental homes affordable to people with the lowest incomes, prevent evictions and homelessness by stabilizing families during a crisis, and strengthen and enforce renter protections to address the power imbalance that tilts heavily in favor of landlords.