U.S. Supreme Court lets stand ruling protecting homeless people

Washington, December 20 (RHC)-- In the United States, the Supreme Court has upheld protections for people who sleep or camp outdoors, after refusing to hear a case over whether cities could criminalize homelessness.  

The Supreme Court’s refusal to hear the case leaves in place an appeals court ruling that says the Constitution does not allow cities to prosecute people for sleeping or camping outside unless the city provides shelter for every single unhoused person in their jurisdiction. 

The legal decision comes as soaring rents and deepening economic inequality have led homelessness rates to soar in some U.S. cities.

Edited by Ed Newman