For Immediate Release
April 2nd, 2024
Press contacts:
Paul Boden (415) 430-7358
pboden@wraphome.org
Julian Highsmith (831) 901-4625
Jhighsmith@cohsf.org
Terese Howard (701) 484-2634
info@housekeysactionnetwork.com
WESTERN REGIONAL ADVOCACY PROJECT SUBMITS AMICUS BRIEF OPPOSING THE APPEAL OF THE GRANTS PASS CASE
San Francisco – An amicus brief was submitted today by Western Regional Advocacy Project (WRAP) on behalf of nine homeless organizations challenging the appeal of the Grants Pass case. Grants Pass practices were found to be unconstitutional as they were arresting and citing unhoused people for camping, who had no other choice but to live on the streets.
“Anti-camping and lodging ordinances result in citations, arrests, and forced displacement for the inescapably human act of taking up space. These ordinances cause essential belongings, including items necessary to basic human survival, to be confiscated and destroyed. And they severely curtail people’s ability to pursue economic and housing security.” According to Terese Howard of House Keys Action Network in Denver, CO.
According to Paul Boden of WRAP “Criminalizing poverty and homelessness not only fails to address systemic causes of mass homelessness, it also exacerbates both the underlying structures of oppression that continue to plague our society.”
“We are submitting an amicus brief because we want to see everyone have a safe and decent place to call home. Homelessness kills, housing saves lives – these protections are critical to forcing local government to solve the crisis.” According to Jennifer Friedenbach of the Coalition on Homelessness, San Francisco
This amicus brief focuses on how today’s ordinances are not only cruel but are derived from rejected historical efforts to banish undesirable people from public spaces, arguing that the Court should follow historical precedent and deem the criminalization of basic survival unconstitutional.
The brief also explains how the use of civil penalties and/or forced displacement of unhoused residents is a clear form of punishment, with severe collateral consequences that make finding housing impossible.
Finally, this brief articulates the policy choices that precipitated modern homelessness and argues that the Court has a responsibility to not exacerbate harm.
WRAP Member Organizations in brief.
Coalition on Homelessness San Francisco
Housekeys Action Network Denver
Judi’s Midnight Diner (Medford, OR)
Los Angeles Community Action Network
Love and Justice in the Streets, Oakland
Sacramento Homeless Organizing Committee
Stop the Sweeps Seattle
Street Spirit, Berkeley
Unhoused Neighbors Union Missoula
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Brief of the Western Regional Advocacy Project as Amici Curiae in Support of Respondents
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