Today, the Supreme Court announced their decision on City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson and ruled in favor of jurisdictions seeking to arrest, ticket, or fine people for experiencing homelessness. Funders Together condemns this decision.

This inhumane ruling, which goes against the values of nearly three-quarters of Americans, will make homelessness worse in Grants Pass and nationwide. The decision rolls back the 2019 Martin v. Boise precedent, claiming it is neither cruel nor unusual punishment to fine, ticket, or arrest people experiencing homelessness who are using survival items like blankets, cardboard, or pillows to rest in public spaces, even when no alternative shelter is available. Funders Together to End Homelessness unapologetically support policies and solutions that are rooted in humanity, choice, and the understanding that everyone deserves a safe place to call home. 

"Funders Together recognizes the blatant racism in this decision: with homelessness disproportionately affecting people of color across the country, the Supreme Court is facilitating further mass incarceration of people of color," said Amanda Andere, CEO of Funders Together to End Homelessness. 

"As leaders in philanthropy, we must encourage our local and federal officials to account for the outsized impact this decision will have on low-income people of color and act swiftly to support community organizers and community-based service providers in accommodating the increased needs stemming from this decision."

We will always stand with our unhoused neighbors. We join our partners and the plaintiffs, Gloria Johnson and John Logan, in grieving this loss. In their honor, as well as that of Debra Blake, an original plaintiff who has since passed away, and countless others who have given of themselves to fight the injustices facing people experiencing homelessness, Funders Together redoubles our commitment to policy advocacy that advances racial and housing justice. 

Call to Action

Funders Together will continue to share our analysis in weeks to come. We are hosting a funder call on Monday, July 1 to debrief this decision and hear your questions. We are also leading a deeper strategy conversation at our 2024 Funders Institute on July 8-9 in Washington, D.C. about how we apply lessons learned to future housing justice work. Please join us in DC on July 8-9 to be in strategic partnership with Funders Together members and partners.  

For more information on Johnson v Grants Pass and implications for philanthropy, visit Funders Together's Johnson v Grants Pass resources page.