Council Leads Amicus Brief in Pivotal U.S. Supreme Court Homelessness Case
The Bay Area Council and a coalition of over a dozen organizations submitted a second “friend of the court” brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Johnson v. Grants Pass, Oregon, concerning the powers of local governments to resolve homeless encampments. The case involves unresolved legal issues stemming from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals’ verdict in the landmark Martin v. Boise case, which has resulted in a cascade of conflicting and contradictory lower court rulings on the responsibilities of local governments to provide shelter when resolving encampments. The Council and its partners are asking the court to ensure local governments have maximum flexibility under the law to provide the shelter options needed to save lives and restore access to public spaces. To engage with the Council’s Homelessness Committee, please contact Senior Vice President Adrian Covert.
