July 8, 2024
Contact: Julia Roach | jroach@skdknick.com

NY SANE Co Conveners Urges Local Law 34 Compliance Amid Supreme Court’s Wrongful Grants Pass Decision

NEW YORK, NY — Amid an assault on the rights of those experiencing homelessness, marked by the City of New York’s continued failure to comply with Local Law 34 and the recent Supreme Court decision in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, NY SANE co conveners issued the following statement:

“Punitive policies that criminalize homelessness fail to address the root causes of homelessness. Instead, they divert resources from meaningful solutions, such as affordable housing and adequate shelter beds, which are essential for providing homeless individuals with reasonable alternatives to sleeping in public spaces.

That is why the NY SANE Coalition strongly condemns the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision to uphold the ban on people experiencing homelessness sleeping outside in Grants Pass, Oregon. This ruling exemplifies the urgent need to protect and preserve New York City's right to shelter, a policy that ensures our most vulnerable residents have access to safe and accessible spaces every night.

In New York City, the enforcement of homeless encampment sweeps and the increased use of involuntary removals of homeless individuals from the transit system mirrors the counterproductive nature of the policies upheld by the Supreme Court in Grants Pass. These actions do not solve homelessness; they only push the problem out of sight without addressing the underlying issues. We expect that when New York City comes into compliance with Local Law 34, the information in the required quarterly reports will prove how costly, ineffective, and inhumane these punitive measures are.

The NY SANE Coalition stands firm in our advocacy to preserve and protect New York City's right to shelter. We call on our community and policymakers to focus on solutions that address the root causes of homelessness and to reject policies that criminalize and penalize our most vulnerable residents.”