Legal Action of Wisconsin Reacts to Supreme Court Decision in City of Grants Pass

Legal Action of Wisconsin is deeply disappointed by the US Supreme Court’s decision in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson.  The Court decided that it is not “cruel and unusual punishment” in violation of the Constitution to allow local governments to punish homeless people for sleeping outside in public places—even if they have nowhere else to go. This ruling is very troubling and directly impacts the communities served by Legal Action of Wisconsin.

According to Legal Action of Wisconsin’s Housing Priority Coordinator Carmen Ayers:

“Punishing homeless people for being homeless does not solve the crisis of homelessness. As lawyers, we know that many people teeter on the thin line between being housed and unhoused. To best support these individuals and families, we seek to prevent homelessness through solutions like increasing access to safe and affordable housing and preventing evictions. No solution will be effective unless it centers on the dignity of people experiencing housing instability.”

Ayers further emphasizes, “Our work at Legal Action remains the same despite Grants Pass: to support and uplift those experiencing homelessness, ensuring they are treated with dignity and respect.”

As a leader in the provision of free legal services for those struggling to achieve housing and economic stability, Legal Action of Wisconsin will continue to work with clients and community partners to achieve those goals.

Ayers concludes, “This decision highlights the obstacles we face but also reinforces the importance of our work.”

About Legal Action
Since 1968, Legal Action of Wisconsin, a non-profit law firm, has been providing free legal services to low-income individuals and families who could not otherwise afford legal help. Legal Action emphasizes legal work with a broader reach, aimed at systemic changes that will help more people achieve a decent quality of life. With offices in six cities and satellite locations across the state, Legal Action serves 39 southern Wisconsin counties with over one hundred attorneys, paralegals, and other staff. Legal Action provides civil legal aid with a focus on maintaining safe and affordable housing; removing barriers to employment; resolving consumer finance issues; accessing and maintaining public benefits; addressing children and family law matters; securing victim support and protection; and providing services to special populations like veterans, seniors, farmworkers, domestic violence survivors, and those recently released from prison.

Legal Action’s work is funded by many different public and private sources, including the federally-funded Legal Services Corporation, and has hundreds of active volunteer attorneys who supplement, enhance, and support our staff attorneys’ case work.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.