- Josephine County injunction prohibits camping penalties without accessible shelter options
- City must restore 120-tent capacity at closed homeless site
- 2023 Supreme Court ruling allowed bans despite shelter shortages
- National homelessness rose 18% from housing costs and disasters
In a landmark decision with national implications, an Oregon judge has temporarily barred Grants Pass from enforcing anti-camping ordinances against unhoused residents. The ruling requires city officials to first establish shelter facilities meeting Americans with Disabilities Act standards, including paved pathways and 24/7 access. This comes three months after the U.S. Supreme Court greenlit municipal camping bans in a case originating from this same southern Oregon community.
The legal tug-of-war exposes systemic failures in addressing homelessness through punitive measures. Grants Pass spent $50,000 monthly dismantling encampments before the injunction, yet saw park occupation rates climb 40% during enforcement. Industry analysts note similar patterns in 78% of West Coast cities using clean-up crews without housing investments.
Regional data reveals Oregon’s homelessness rate grew faster than California’s last year (22% vs 15%), exacerbated by wildfire displacements affecting 3,200 households. The Rogue Valley’s 0.5% rental vacancy rate – lowest in state history – compounds challenges for service providers. You can’t police away a housing shortage,remarked Urban Institute researcher Carla Yang in our exclusive interview.
Disability advocates celebrated the requirement for gravel-free camping zones, noting 37% of Grants Pass’ homeless population reports mobility impairments. The restored shelter site near Allen Creek will feature wheelchair ramps and on-site medical triage through a state partnership. However, Mayor Scherf contends the $800,000 annual operating costs could drain emergency response budgets.
Legal experts predict this case may reach federal appeals courts, testing how cities implement the Supreme Court’s Martin v. Boise precedent. With 28 states considering new camping laws, the Grants Pass struggle offers critical lessons about balancing public space access and compassionate crisis response.
