The Unlikely Consensus on Homelessness
A Small, Solidly Republican City in Oregon and California’s Largest Liberal Enclaves Share a Common Bond
What does a small, solidly Republican city in Oregon have in common with California’s largest liberal enclaves? All breathed a sigh of relief this year thanks to the far-right U.S. Supreme Court. The court’s conservative bloc ruled in favor of the city of Grants Pass, Ore., in June, overturning a key lower court ruling on homelessness and clearing the way for local governments to crack down on sleeping in public spaces regardless of the availability of housing or shelter.
California’s Response to the Ruling
California’s response to the ruling has become a vivid reminder of not just the intractability of the homelessness epidemic but also the tension between national liberal politics and local policy in Democratic-dominated states and cities. Some 186,000 people across California lack consistent shelter. Roughly 84% of the state’s voters believe homelessness is a "very serious" problem, a Quinnipiac University poll found, and Democrats and Republicans were in similarly broad agreement on that assessment, at 81% and 85%, respectively.
The Demise of a Solution
In that light, it’s not surprising that California officials have wasted no time since Grants Pass in implementing their preferred "solution" to the homelessness problem. From San Diego to San Francisco, state and local workers began disassembling makeshift shelters and camps and displacing the homeless people living in them. Within days, entire blocks were remade across the state. Residents rallied to social media platforms such as Reddit and Nextdoor to exchange strategies for getting homeless encampments removed from their own neighborhoods.
A Crisis of Perception
Other California residents have taken the Supreme Court’s ruling and Democratic officials’ exuberant co-sign as further evidence of the nation’s growing disdain for society’s most marginalized. Reports spread of homeless people being ejected from campsites with little or no warning, their pets taken away and medications lost, among other indignities.
The American Civil Liberties Union and Other Advocacy Groups
The American Civil Liberties Union and other advocacy groups have condemned the Grants Pass ruling. The chief executive of the National Alliance to End Homelessness said it set a "dangerous precedent." But the precedent set by California Democrats has arguably been far more dangerous.
A Crisis of Inaction
Addressing the housing crisis has been a quintessential and enduring social justice cause for Democrats, encompassing themes that tend to unify the party, including health, economic and racial equity. According to one survey, 82% of homeless adults in California reported having experienced a serious mental health condition, and 65% had used illicit drugs at some point. The state’s Black people are disproportionately affected by homelessness: Despite making up only about 5% of California’s total population, they represent roughly 25% of its homeless people.
Conclusion
Reducing and preventing homelessness, whatever the underlying motivations, is one of the few civic concerns that bind the political parties together in an age of stark polarization. Beyond the obvious moral merits of the cause, it could provide a roadmap to arrive at bipartisan solutions for other challenges facing the state and country. Unfortunately, the consensus on homelessness is coalescing around a prescription with little chance of long-term success.
FAQs
Q: What is the current state of homelessness in California?
A: Some 186,000 people across California lack consistent shelter.
Q: What is the public’s perception of homelessness in California?
A: Roughly 84% of California voters believe homelessness is a "very serious" problem, according to a Quinnipiac University poll.
Q: What is the response of California officials to the Grants Pass ruling?
A: California officials have wasted no time in implementing their preferred "solution" to the homelessness problem, which includes disassembling makeshift shelters and camps and displacing the homeless people living in them.
Q: What is the stance of the American Civil Liberties Union and other advocacy groups on the Grants Pass ruling?
A: The American Civil Liberties Union and other advocacy groups have condemned the Grants Pass ruling, calling it a "dangerous precedent."
