Supreme Court allows cities to enforce bans on homeless people sleeping outside

SUMMARY

The Supreme Court ruled on Friday that cities can enforce bans on homeless people sleeping outdoors, even in areas with insufficient shelter space. In a 6-3 decision, the court reversed a San Francisco-based appeals court's ruling, which had deemed such bans as cruel and unusual punishment. This case, originating from Grants Pass, Oregon, is significant as it addresses the growing issue of homelessness in the U.S. A bipartisan group of leaders argued that the prior ruling hindered their ability to manage outdoor encampments, while homeless advocates contended that penalizing individuals for sleeping outside would exacerbate the homelessness crisis.