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Record numbers in the US are homeless. Can cities fine them for sleeping in parks and on sidewalks?
The Associated Press ^ | April 20, 2024 | BY LINDSAY WHITEHURST

Posted on 04/20/2024 9:50:59 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer

WASHINGTON (AP) — The most significant case in decades on homelessness has reached the Supreme Court as record numbers of people in America are without a permanent place to live.

The justices on Monday will consider a challenge to rulings from a California-based appeals court that found punishing people for sleeping outside when shelter space is lacking amounts to unconstitutional cruel and unusual punishment.

A political cross section of officials in the West and California, home to nearly one-third of the nation’s homeless population, argue those decisions have restricted them from “common sense” measures intended to keep homeless encampments from taking over public parks and sidewalks.

Advocacy groups say the decisions provide essential legal protections, especially with an increasing number of people forced to sleep outdoors as the cost of housing soars.

The case before the Supreme Court comes from Grants Pass, a small city nestled in the mountains of southern Oregon, where rents are rising and there is just one overnight shelter for adults. As a growing number of tents clustered its parks, the city banned camping and set $295 fines for people sleeping there.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals largely blocked the camping ban under its finding that it is unconstitutional to punish people for sleeping outside when there is not adequate shelter space. Grants Pass appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing the ruling left it few good options.

“It really has made it impossible for cities to address growing encampments, and they’re unsafe, unhealthy and problematic for everyone, especially those who are experiencing homelessness,” said lawyer Theane Evangelis, who is representing Grants Pass.

(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: grantspass; homeless; housing; scotus
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

A proverbial saying, mid 17th century: Meaning that it is pointless to try to obtain restitution from someone without resources. ...

Sue a beggar and catch a louse - Oxford Reference

Oxford Reference
https://www.oxfordreference.com › viewbydoi › acref


41 posted on 04/20/2024 11:59:31 AM PDT by Grampa Dave ((“Surrender often myeans wisely accommodating to what is beyond our control!” — Sylvia Boorstein.))
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

A proverbial saying, mid 17th century: Meaning that it is pointless to try to obtain restitution from someone without resources. ...

Sue a beggar and catch a louse - Oxford Reference

Oxford Reference
https://www.oxfordreference.com › viewbydoi › acref


42 posted on 04/20/2024 12:00:22 PM PDT by Grampa Dave ((“Surrender often myeans wisely accommodating to what is beyond our control!” — Sylvia Boorstein.))
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To: Gnome1949

Exactly


43 posted on 04/20/2024 12:00:46 PM PDT by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the Days of Lot; They did Eat, They Drank, They Bought, They Sold ......)
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To: WinstonSmith1984

This poster has the answer.


44 posted on 04/20/2024 12:11:09 PM PDT by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
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To: eastexsteve

if I was homeless I’d welcome a trip to jail. room and board for free even get a shower.


45 posted on 04/20/2024 12:28:56 PM PDT by cableguymn
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To: Nateman

“Fine the Homeless all you want. Most of them, if they have any money at all, spend it on drugs and booze.”

Then put them in jail where they belong. It might actually help them in the long run. At least they will have shelter. Make them work while they are there too.


46 posted on 04/20/2024 12:42:33 PM PDT by willk (Local news media. Just as big an enemy to this country as national media)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

South of our border is EMPTY. Make a new America. Sounds tempting.


47 posted on 04/20/2024 12:56:35 PM PDT by If You Want It Fixed - Fix It
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Remember when the used to run the hobos out of town until they found out their names are good for voting.

They give them money food cards free medical and allow them to roam like cattle.


48 posted on 04/20/2024 12:57:52 PM PDT by Vaduz
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Before the mortgage industry was born a nice house could be purchased with cash. Now, most can not afford the payments to a nice house.


49 posted on 04/20/2024 1:42:25 PM PDT by Racketeer
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Record numbers are DRUGGIES that don’t want any rules.
Fixed it.


50 posted on 04/20/2024 1:43:16 PM PDT by AbolishCSEU (Amount of "child" support paid is inversely proportionate to mother's actual parenting of children)
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To: Dilbert San Diego

the other thing is regarding hospital bills.

did he try to work it out with accounting? patient advocacy? request funds to help out with the bills by providing source of income?


51 posted on 04/20/2024 2:14:15 PM PDT by thesligoduffyflynns (WHEN 💎GOING GfirstETS TOUGH KEEP GOING💎 IfIT DOESNT KiI re done noL yOU I wil MAKE YOU STRONGER💎)
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To: Dilbert San Diego

the other thing is regarding hospital bills.

did he try to work it out with accounting? patient advocacy? request funds to help out with the bills by providing source of income?


52 posted on 04/20/2024 2:14:34 PM PDT by thesligoduffyflynns (WHEN 💎GOING GfirstETS TOUGH KEEP GOING💎 IfIT DOESNT KiI re done noL yOU I wil MAKE YOU STRONGER💎)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Just make it LEGAL to Camp on Public Property anywhere within 1000 feet of the Personal Residence of Any and All Officers of the Court.


53 posted on 04/20/2024 2:22:54 PM PDT by eyeamok
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

I’m against the FReeper consensus on this. Fine/arrest them when/if they do drugs in public, harass other people, or go number two on a sidewalk. Crack down harder on that. But I’m not down with fining people who don’t have the money anyway just for existing and sleeping which is a biological necessity for existence. It makes no sense to me to fine those people or to lock them up. And shelters are full in a lot of major cities and no one wants to pay for or have a shelter built in their neighborhood. If that situation were different, I’d be OK with giving them the choice of the cop taking them to a shelter or fining them. But it’s not, at least in a lot of cities, so the option seems to be let them sleep or lock them ‘up. And I don’t see the point of prisons instead of shelters...


54 posted on 04/20/2024 2:30:03 PM PDT by Stravinsky
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To: eastexsteve
Can cities fine them for sleeping in parks and on sidewalks?

Sure if they are citizens.

The non-citizens you have to ship back to a border crossing to let MEXICO deal with the invaders that they helped enter LOUR land!

55 posted on 04/20/2024 2:33:03 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

GMTA!


56 posted on 04/20/2024 2:33:36 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Dilbert San Diego
That this case is in court because cities are grappling with what to do about homelessness?P>Because we did not 'grapple' with border invasion...
57 posted on 04/20/2024 2:34:58 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Nobody ever asks how we dealt with the homeless for the centuries before they suddenly became accepted and routine since the 60s and the left took control over all the issues and institutions, and laws that created them.


58 posted on 04/20/2024 4:21:26 PM PDT by ansel12 ((NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.))
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

I feed homeless and witness to them on a daily basis.
The problem is mental illness, Its compounded by drug addiction and alcohol addiction, Compounded by the idea that they think that they are living freely and they don’t have to answer to anybody for their action.
This is not a Hallmark movie where somebody lost their job.And they’re living in a van down by the river.
90% of these people are even 99% of these people are people who want to live homeless.Because they think it’s the way that they are supposed to live.


59 posted on 04/20/2024 4:40:00 PM PDT by RaceBannon (Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for )
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To: RaceBannon

You are correct...


60 posted on 04/20/2024 4:45:57 PM PDT by bankwalker (Repeal the 19th ...)
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