If you are living in the Midwest United States, you probably talked about the weather a lot this week. Yes, it was very hot. Think about the ways that you were able to manage the heat. Did you stay indoors more? Was your air conditioning on in the house? And the car? Did you put a few more ice cubes into your water bottle? What if you did not have access to an air-conditioned home or car? Heck, what if you did not even have access to a structured shelter?

How would you have managed the heat then?

Due to being a part of an organization whose mission is based on ending homelessness, I now notice every person experiencing homelessness. One day this week, I was driving west on 5th Ave. While I was stopped at a light, I saw a man sitting in his underwear with a bag full of necessities and two-gallon jugs of water. He was sitting in direct sun and looked exhausted. Since I study urban planning, I also noticed many anti-homeless design elements at play. There was no public space with shade, no offset between the sidewalk and the street. This is how many streets in Columbus are designed to deter people from “loitering.” How has society reached the point of criminalizing being outside? A hunger for money is a drive, but how far can this capitalistic ideal go?

The day after reflecting on what it would be like to be homeless in a heat wave, I discussed my thoughts with a coworker. She agreed that working for an organization focused on housing has made her more aware of the people who are homeless in our community. She told me that during the warm months, she always keeps a cooler with water in her car to give out as she drives. It is a simple gesture that can really make an impact. This conversation spiraled into her educating me about a pending case in the Supreme Court: Johnson v. Grant Pass.

The city of Grants Pass in southern Oregon has a population of people experiencing homelessness that is greater than the number of available shelter beds. This causes people to have to sleep outdoors. Over time, the City of Grant Pass implemented municipal codes prohibiting sleeping, sitting, or lying outside. This gave the police the ability to fine people living on the land. Unpaid fines or multiple violations have led to jail time. This case was first brought against the Grant Pass, stating that its regulations violate the 8th Amendment. The case has been driven up the judicial ranks by Grant Pass because the courts ruled that the city is violating the 8th Amendment. The Supreme Court has heard the arguments and will decide by June 30, 2024.

The pending Supreme Court case, Johnson v. Grant Pass, holds significant implications for the criminalization of homelessness. This is a matter of great concern, particularly as many individuals are living paycheck to paycheck, teetering on the edge of homelessness. The potential for us to be criminalized due to the unlivable wages of most jobs is a disheartening reality. I can only hope that the Supreme Court will make the right decision.