‘Criminal for existing’: US’s unhoused still fear sweeps as supreme court to take on shelter case

Court could weigh in on whether cities and states can shut down homeless encampments but it could also define what it means to provide shelter

In mid-January, the US supreme court agreed to reconsider the case Grants Pass v Johnson. In doing so, it could overturn a previous decision, Martin v Boise, which ruled that cities cannot punish unhoused people for violating anti-camping policies when there are no alternatives available.

That has left elected officials, advocates and, not least of all, homeless people themselves wondering whether a future high court decision will give cities more power to clear homeless settlements or if cities' responsibilities to provide for unhoused residents will be clarified.