Swords Condemns the SCOTUS Ruling of Grants Pass v. Johnson

Swords to Plowshares joins many other housing advocates to condemn the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Grants Pass v. Johnson. This ruling allows local governments to ticket, fine, and arrest people for sleeping in public spaces – even when they have no other shelter option. This ruling sets a legal precedent that will perpetuate unjust and dehumanizing outcomes in our community. Studies show that the criminalization of homelessness exacerbates chronic homelessness and racial disparities.

In San Francisco, the 2024 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count reported that chronic homelessness increased by 9% compared to 2022. In Alameda County, chronic homelessness increased by 5% since 2022. We know that marginalized populations are overrepresented in our community’s homeless population and will therefore be disproportionately targeted by the criminalization of homelessness. This includes veterans, people with mental illness, people with disabilities, people of color, and LGBTQ people.  

The Supreme Court’s decision undermines our nation’s expressed commitment to serve its unhoused veterans, many of whom are struggling with their transition to civilian life. The journey to exit homelessness is already a difficult one, and it is even harder when compounded with intersecting lived experiences such as advanced age, disability, racism, trauma, and PTSD. Ticketing and potential imprisonment – and criminal record – will only add barriers to housing, employment, and mental healthcare access.  

With 50 years of experience providing services to San Francisco Bay Area veterans, Swords to Plowshares is on a mission to end veteran homelessness. We operate permanent supportive housing for 500 veterans and have worked with community partners, including the City of San Francisco, to build 222 new housing units in the last decade. We know that helping unhoused veterans move into housing requires outreach and patience, mental health and legal support, and wraparound services. It is hard work, but it can be done, and our veteran residents – all of whom have histories of chronic homelessness and disability – are now stably housed.

Evidence has repeatedly shown that what resolves homelessness is access to affordable and supportive permanent housing options. The Supreme Court’s ruling is especially harmful as communities lack the resources necessary to address the systemic issues that lead to individuals living and sleeping in public spaces: lack of housing and affordable housing, skyrocketing rent, lack of shelter beds, scarce mental health and substance use treatment, and slow bureaucratic processes that delay moving unhoused folks from shelter beds into permanent supportive housing options.  

Our philosophy of care at Swords to Plowshares recognizes that veteran homelessness, instability, institutional racism, and systemic oppression are interrelated and require an integrated network of support. The Johnson v. Grants Pass ruling galvanizes our commitment to push our local, state, and government officials toward solutions that put underserved veterans first.