Grants Pass Faces Ongoing Homeless Crisis Post-Supreme Court Ruling
Grants Pass, Oregon, is grappling with a worsening homeless crisis, according to Brian Bouteller, director of the city’s only overnight shelter, Gospel Rescue Mission. Despite a summer 2022 U.S. Supreme Court ruling empowering local governments to regulate homeless encampments, Bouteller asserts that the situation in Grants Pass remains dire. "Almost every city in the country has been more positively affected by the Supreme Court case than Grants Pass," he remarked.
Last year, the Supreme Court ruled that Grants Pass could enforce bans on homeless camping in public spaces. However, since the closure of the city’s larger outdoor campsite in January, only a single camp remains, accommodating around 30 tents without access to potable water. Campers are required to pack out their belongings each day between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Advocates challenged these restrictions, leading to a preliminary injunction from Judge Sarah McGlaughlin mandating increased camping capacity and accessibility.
Bouteller noted that despite the Gospel Rescue Mission offering 138 beds, occupancy has been below half due to strict shelter rules prohibiting drugs and alcohol. He expressed concern that many individuals in encampments are unlikely to seek shelter assistance.
Highlighting the struggle to manage the crisis, Bouteller described the painful reality of community incidents, such as the emergency removal of a deceased individual from a tent during a local youth baseball game. He warned that the ongoing situation is reminiscent of larger cities notorious for homelessness, which is unexpected for a location like Grants Pass.
As the local government grapples with these challenges, they must formulate reasonable policies for regulating public camping, in accordance with new state legislation. While the area leans conservative, with a significant portion of the community backing Donald Trump in the 2024 elections, Bouteller remains hopeful that residents will persevere in efforts to improve local conditions.
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