By Emily Thompson

The recent United States Supreme Court (SCOTUS) ruling on homelessness has significant implications for America's homeless population.

In a 6-3 decision, the court overruled Grants Pass v. Johnson, which barred cities within the 9th Circuit from enforcing bans on public encampments, citing the Eighth Amendment. Cities now have the freedom to determine which policies work best to address homelessness.

The case originated when homeless plaintiff Gloria Johnson sued Grants Pass, Oregon, for its ban on public camping in 2018. The case relied on precedent from the 2018 case Martin v. Boise to claim Grants Pass was punishing the "unavoidable consequences" of homelessness, violating the Eighth Amendment's ban on "cruel and unusual punishment." The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in 2022 on behalf of the plaintiff, but the Supreme Court overturned that ruling with Friday's decision.