SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown released a statement in response to the Supreme Court ruling allowing cities to enforce bans on homeless people sleeping outdoors.
The ruling comes after homelessness in the United States grew 12% last year. According to AP News, more than 650,000 people are estimated to be homeless in the United States.
“The City of Spokane has been and will continue to respond to unlawful camping and code violations through police enforcement, Spokane Fire’s behavioral health response, and our Homeless Outreach Team. We are also working closely with non-profit and community organizations that engage in outreach and provide paths to stability,” Mayor Lisa Brown said.
In a 6-3 decision, the court reversed a San Francisco-based appeals court ruling that states outdoor sleeping bans are cruel and unusual punishment. Homeless activists argue this ban will make the homeless crisis worse by criminalizing those sleeping outdoors.
“I remain committed to community safety and the well-being of all our citizens, which requires a more robust approach than enforcement alone. We are committed to getting to the root causes of the unhoused crisis by making investments in mental and behavioral health care, expanding access to substance use treatment, and creating more transitional and permanent housing,” Mayor Brown said.
