Oregon city faces new legal challenge over homeless camping policies, sparking debate on rights and public safety.
Key Takeaways
- Disability Rights Oregon sues Grants Pass over public camping policies following Supreme Court ruling
- Lawsuit claims city’s actions violate state law requiring “objectively reasonable” camping regulations
- Grants Pass voted to close larger homeless campsite and restrict smaller one, citing unsanitary conditions
- Legal complaint argues available camping space is insufficient for city’s homeless population
- Case highlights ongoing national struggle with homelessness and lack of affordable housing
New Legal Battle Emerges in Grants Pass
The city of Grants Pass, Oregon, finds itself back in the spotlight as a new legal battle unfolds over its homeless camping policies. Following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that allowed enforcement of homeless camping bans, Disability Rights Oregon and five disabled homeless individuals have filed a lawsuit against the city. The legal action challenges the city’s recent decisions regarding public camping, reigniting the debate on how to address homelessness while balancing public safety concerns.
The lawsuit, filed in the Circuit Court for the State of Oregon for Josephine County, comes in response to the Grants Pass City Council’s vote to close the larger of two city-owned campsites for homeless people and impose restrictions on the smaller one. City officials cited unsanitary conditions as the reason for these actions. However, the plaintiffs argue that these decisions disproportionately affect disabled homeless individuals and violate Oregon state law.
Insufficient Resources and Discriminatory Practices
At the heart of the legal complaint is the assertion that Grants Pass lacks adequate resources to address its homeless population. The city has only one overnight shelter which has restrictions that deter some homeless individuals from seeking refuge there. Furthermore, the complaint states that the available camping space is woefully insufficient, accommodating less than 20% of the city’s homeless population.
Jake Cornett, CEO of Disability Rights Oregon, strongly criticized the city’s actions, describing them as cruel and illegal, especially during the harsh winter months. The lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order to reverse the closure of the larger campsite and halt restrictions on the smaller one, arguing that the city’s policies discriminate against disabled individuals and violate Oregon state law.
“Putting the lives of people with disabilities at risk in the dead of winter because they don’t have housing is cruel and illegal,” said Cornett. “Without adequate shelter space available, forcing a person in a wheelchair or someone with a chronic illness to pack and move their belongings daily is not just impossible, it’s inhumane. Grants Pass’s dangerous actions must be stopped.”
Legal Implications and Broader Context
The lawsuit brings attention to a state law that requires camping regulations to be “objectively reasonable.” Disability Rights Oregon argues that Grants Pass is violating this statute through its current policies. This legal challenge comes after the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the city’s ordinance banning public camping, which rejected claims that it violated the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment.
The situation in Grants Pass reflects a broader national crisis of homelessness, exacerbated by a severe lack of affordable housing. Recent data shows an 18% increase in homelessness across the United States last year, attributed to factors such as addiction, housing shortages, natural disasters, and increased migration. As cities grapple with these complex issues, the legal battle in Grants Pass may set important precedents for how municipalities can address homelessness while respecting the rights of their homeless citizens.
