On Friday, the Supreme Court made a devastating ruling in the case of City of Grants Pass Oregon v. Johnson – criminalizing homelessness across the country. Localities will now be able to arrest, ticket, and fine people who are unsheltered and sleeping outdoors on public property, even when there are no other safe or adequate housing or shelter options available.

YWCA Columbus condemns this ruling and warns of the dangers of this precedent. Forcing people into the carceral system will not solve homelessness. Burdening people with fines and criminal records will not solve homelessness. These consequences will only make it harder for those people to find stable housing. Homelessness is a failure of systems, not people. YWCA Columbus urges local leaders to focus on what actually solves homelessness: access to safe, stable, affordable housing. Moving people out of public view rather than solving the underlying issues is an inhumane, cruel, and cowardly approach.