An Oregon judge has issued a preliminary injunction blocking the city of Grants Pass from enforcing camping restrictions on public property unless certain conditions are met. The judge ruled that the city must increase capacity at approved camping locations and ensure they are accessible to people with disabilities. Failure to meet these conditions will result in the city being prohibited from citing, arresting, or fining people for camping on public property. The city will also not be allowed to force individuals to leave campsites or remove campsites that are not abandoned. While the city can still enforce rules against sleeping on sidewalks and streets, camping in most city parks will be allowed under the judge’s order.
Mayor Clint Scherf of Grants Pass expressed disappointment at the judge’s order, stating that the city is reviewing all aspects to make the best decision for the community. The lawsuit that sparked the case was filed by Disability Rights Oregon, arguing that the city was discriminating against people with disabilities and violating a state law requiring camping regulations to be “objectively reasonable.” The case involved five homeless individuals in Grants Pass who were among the plaintiffs. Grants Pass has struggled to address the homelessness crisis, particularly in its parks where encampments impacted by drug use and litter have been prevalent.
Fremont, California also recently passed one of the nation’s strictest anti-homeless encampment ordinances, banning camping on any public property and imposing fines or jail time on those facilitating encampments. Last summer, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that communities can ban sleeping outside and punish violators, even when there are insufficient shelter beds. Following this ruling, Grants Pass banned camping on all city property except designated sites established by the City Council. After a change in leadership this year, the city closed a larger camping site and reduced operating hours of a smaller site, leading to the lawsuit.
The judge’s order requires the city to increase capacity at camping sites to pre-closure levels and ensure accessibility for people with disabilities. Disability Rights Oregon praised the ruling, emphasizing that it is a reasonable solution that aims to provide homeless individuals with the same amount of space and resources as they had before. The city of Grants Pass continues to grapple with the homelessness crisis and must navigate the complexities of balancing the needs of the community with the rights and well-being of homeless individuals. The ongoing debate surrounding homelessness in Grants Pass serves as a microcosm of the larger national conversation on how to effectively address this pressing societal issue.
