WASHINGTON, D.C  — Today, the Supreme Court of the United States decided (6-3) to criminalize unhoused people in Grants Pass v. Johnson. 

Congressman Jamaal Bowman released the following statement in response:

“It is absolutely disgusting that in the wealthiest nation in the world, our government would rather criminalize homelessness instead of providing everyone with dignified housing. Any effort to criminalize unhoused people for simply existing is cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment. Homelessness is a policy choice that we can solve today by making transformational investments in housing and wraparound support services. The Supreme Court’s decision to ignore the humanity of unhoused people by criminalizing encampments is exactly the opposite of the compassionate solutions we need right now. This decision pushes America further down the path of becoming a police state when we should be working towards becoming a more compassionate democracy. This ruling will increase levels of incarceration among communities struggling with housing insecurity. Instead of criminalizing homelessness, we must confront the systemic failures that perpetuate the prevalence of homelessness by implementing wraparound solutions that address the root causes and promote community healing.”

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