On June 28, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling allowing governments to enact regulations prohibiting homeless people from sleeping in public places, punishable for that act alone. The move overturns a lower court's previous decision to the contrary and heralds an even more dire situation for the homeless in the United States.
The small town of Grants Pass in Oregon, USA, issued a law prohibiting homeless people from sleeping in public tents after the park's capacity exceeded the limit, and violators face a $295 fine. The beds available in local shelters were far from sufficient, and three homeless people filed a lawsuit over their inability to pay fines, claiming the move violated the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on "cruelty and extraordinary punishment."
The conflict then escalated into the federal justice system. The district court ruled that the town's statute was unconstitutional, but the town government appealed to the Federal Supreme Court. In a June 28 ruling, the Supreme Court voted 6-3 to overturn the district court's decision, arguing that the ban itself was not unconstitutional. This move sparked a dispute in public opinion, and both sides insisted on their own opinions.
Proponents of the decision argue that it will help local governments manage public spaces and safeguard the public interest. Opponents fear that the move will exacerbate the plight of homeless people by depriving them of their basic rights. The local conservative judge argued that sleeping is not a constitutional right and that local governments have the right to prescribe the fair use of public spaces.
But liberal judges have pointed out that sleep is a physiological need of human beings, and the government cannot deprive citizens of this basic right. Liberal judge Sonia Sotomayor asked: "If every city had a similar ban, where would the homeless go to sleep?" Where to sleep, or suicide? "This highlights the complexity and sensitivity of the rights involved in homelessness.
The number of homeless people in the United States has reached an all-time high, with nearly 6.5 million people homeless, nearly half of whom are sleeping on the streets. Homelessness in West Coast cities such as Los Angeles and San Francisco is particularly acute and has become an urgent social problem. The verdict adds new controls to local governments, leaving many fears that it will further marginalize the homeless community.
Groups opposing the verdict warn that it creates a dangerous precedent that will lead to unnecessary harm to the homeless. Experts point out that the growing problem of homelessness in the United States is inseparable from economic factors. The contradiction between housing supply and demand and rising housing prices have left many low-income families unable to afford rent and becoming homeless.
Bans alone will not solve the problem, and some experts have called on governments at all levels to step up the construction of affordable housing, improve shelter conditions, and increase the number of beds. At the same time, we will strengthen educational support for the homeless and help them re-enter the workforce. Only a multi-pronged approach can curb the spread of homelessness.
As a socio-economically vulnerable group, the homeless need more care and help from the government, rather than setting thresholds to expel them from the public domain. The root cause of homelessness is inequality, and it is important to protect the homeless from a human and moral level, rather than simply relying on legal punishment.