Supporting the homeless
Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its opinion in the case of Grants Pass vs. Johnson, which determined that criminal punishments implemented in Grants Pass, Ore., against homeless individuals for sleeping and living outside within city limits did not violate the “cruel and unusual punishment” clause of the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
Previous courts have used the “cruel and unusual punishment” clause to prohibit such bans, so the Supreme Court’s recent decision gives more decision-making power to local communities regarding how they choose to address homelessness.
For 83 years, we at City Mission have experienced our local community truly coming together to support the homeless. The City of Washington and the surrounding communities have not only supported our ministry for more than eight decades, but countless other meetings, resources and services have been created by local agencies to help restore the homeless and those living on the brink of homelessness. And local government officials support these causes, provide additional services and help facilitate connections among local agencies.
Homelessness is a very complex issue. There is no quick fix. It takes communities working together in lockstep to provide shelter, food, services, resources, help and safe living spaces where people can heal. And the Supreme Court’s recent acknowledgement that local agencies and communities are the right places to combat homelessness doesn’t dissuade us at all from our calling to bring hope to the homeless. We have seen this community in action and that gives us faith that homeless individuals and families in Southwestern Pennsylvania can transform their lives and be restored to dignity, purpose and independence.
Diana Irey Vaughan
Washington
Diana Irey Vaughan is the president and CEO of City Mission.