On June 28th, SCOTUS delivered a decision in a trend of alarming new acts from the highest court in the land. SCOTUS' decision upheld the stance of Grant Pass, Oregon, which had recently passed a controversial ordinance allowing the city to fine and imprison potential "repeat offenders" who camp and sleep outdoors. Vibrant Emotional Health (Vibrant) disagrees with this decision and is deeply concerned about the precedent this establishes. The court's decision presents an urgent threat to everyone, especially those experiencing housing insecurities. It would also empower states and local law enforcement entities to criminalize individuals and communities who have been historically bereft of resources due to structural classism and systemic neglect. The court's position is alarming because, along with its legal implications, this decision has potentially long-term harmful mental health impacts on a community that is already grappling with the stress of not having access to equitable and affordable housing and the additional difficulties interconnected to not having stable housing. When one analyzes the potential impact a decision like this could have on a community, it is essential to examine which groups comprise the affected population. As of 2023, 32,770 veterans are unhoused, making up 7% of the unhoused community, 12,000-14,000 (20%) of unhoused youth identify as LGBTQ, and 55,000-60,000 (10%) are unhoused elders.
Criminalizing individuals based on their housing status amid the present housing crisis, inflation, and the lack of holistic resources is a grave injustice that will set a harmful precedent and further exacerbate their physical and mental well-being. For members of the unhoused community, being socially isolated from community and having inequitable access to housing can increase chronic levels of stress(1). Furthermore, this raises pressing questions, including how unhoused community members can cover any legal fees when unhoused, which is also interconnected to financial instability. Unhoused people who are often grappling with where they will sleep, how they will provide for their partners, pets, or families, and how they will find their next meal should not be treated as criminals or vagrants.
In response to the impacts of this decision, our partners, stakeholders, and elected officials must step up and support preventative measures. These measures should aim to expand access to housing, mental health services, and other essential resources that will improve conditions for unhoused community members. Advocates, communities, and policymakers should rally behind proven housing methods like Denver's "Housing First" Program, which has disrupted the homelessness-to-jail pipeline. Only by working together can we ensure that vulnerable community members are not targeted, criminalized, and further restricted from accessing vital resources.
References:
(1) Padgett DK. Homelessness, housing instability and mental health: making the connections. BJPsych Bull. 2020 Oct;44(5):197-201. doi: 10.1192/bjb.2020.49. PMID: 32538335; PMCID: PMC7525583.