Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) has introduced new legislation that would bar federal agencies from removing homeless individuals from federal land if they have nowhere else to go — a move that comes just days before the anniversary of the US Supreme Court’s landmark City of Grants Pass v. Johnson decision.
Dubbed the “Housing Not Handcuffs” Act, Jayapal’s bill seeks to protect people experiencing homelessness from being penalized for actions such as accepting food or water, or storing belongings on federal property, unless “adequate alternative indoor space” is available.
The legislation is a direct response to the high court’s ruling on City of Grants Pass v. Johnson last year, which overturned a lower court decision and gave cities the authority to enforce bans on homeless camping in public areas.
Jayapal said in a statement accompanying the bill’s introduction, “Every single person in the richest country in the world should be able to have a roof over their head and a safe place to sleep, it’s that simple,” and went onto say that one cannot pay rent on minimum wage anywhere in the US.
However, the proposal is drawing criticism from officials in cities struggling to enforce local homelessness policies, including in Jayapal’s home state of Washington.
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Author: Dillon B
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