Grants Pass, Oregon, is under legal scrutiny once more as the city faces a fresh lawsuit challenging its recently imposed homeless camping regulations, which advocates claim violate both state laws and the civil rights of individuals with disabilities. This legal battle follows significant changes made by the city's new leadership, which took office after last year's landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowing cities to enact harsh penalties on public camping.
The lawsuit, filed by Disability Rights Oregon and the Oregon Law Center on January 30, 2025, includes five individuals who live with disabilities and resides within the city limits of Grants Pass. These plaintiffs have rallied against the city's camping restrictions, arguing they not only discriminate against people with disabilities but also fail to meet the standards outlined by Oregon law, which requires such regulations to be "objectively reasonable." The lawsuit serves as a continuation of advocacy for more humane treatment of homeless individuals within the region.
According to Tom Stenson, Deputy Legal Director at Disability Rights Oregon, the city’s regulatory changes are not only problematic but could worsen the plight of those living without stable shelter. “I think we’re going to see [homeless advocacy] continues because the problem isn’t going away. The need for housing is not going away,” Stenson stated.
The recent history of homelessness policies has made Grants Pass somewhat of a testing ground following the Supreme Court's decision, which empowered municipalities to enforce stricter camping bans even when shelter options are limited. City officials, now led by a new mayor and council elected last November, opted to reduce camping areas from two sanctioned sites down to one. The closure of the larger site, known as J Street, forced individuals to comply with even more restrictive measures, including the requirement to vacate designated camping areas during the day.
Currently, the only remaining sanctioned campsite at 7th Street is accessible only from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m. each day. Observers note this situation places undue pressure on vulnerable individuals who may already have mobility challenges, as they are forced to pack and carry their belongings on a daily basis. Jake Cornett, Executive Director and CEO of Disability Rights Oregon, highlighted the inherent risks associated with these policies: “Without adequate shelter space available, forcing a person in a wheelchair or someone with chronic illness to pack and move their belongings daily is not just impossible, it’s inhumane.”
Among the plaintiffs named in the lawsuit is Janine Harris, 57, who has been homeless for four years. Harris, who struggles with arthritis and post-traumatic stress disorder, expressed her desperation against the city's tightening grip on homeless policies. “A lot of us do not have any idea where to go,” she lamented, emphasizing the human element of the broader homeless crisis.
The complaint has generated considerable attention, particularly as it highlights the broader issues of discrimination against people with disabilities within the larger framework of homelessness. It directly challenges the city’s recent actions, arguing they fail to accommodate the needs of vulnerable populations, particularly when conditions worsen during the winter months.
Critics, including many health professionals and legal advocates, argue the city’s actions violate Oregon state law provisions against disability discrimination, noting the requirement for local regulations to be fair and reasonable. “The city’s actions are also unreasonable and violate nondiscrimination law as they unfairly target, impose a disparate impact on, and fail to accommodate people with disabilities,” the lawsuit asserts.
The state laws under which the lawsuit is filed are ostensibly intended to protect vulnerable populations, but according to advocates, the realities on the ground tell another story. Grants Pass, which has only one overnight shelter — the Gospel Rescue Mission — is largely unable to meet the demands of its homeless population, leaving many individuals without safe or legal refuge.
Meanwhile, local members of the community have expressed frustration with the city’s management of the homelessness crisis, leading to sentiment among residents about reassessing policy decisions. Public officials have stated little on the lawsuit, but some have recognized the urgent need for transparent and empathetic approaches to homelessness.
Despite the challenging environment presented by the city’s decisions, advocates remain steadfast. According to Stenson, the upcoming legal challenges are important measures to reshape how municipalities like Grants Pass handle homelessness. Stenson reflected, “If you dare people to sue you, somebody's probably going to sue you eventually.”
With Grants Pass caught between legal obligations and community pressures, the outcome of this lawsuit could not only alter the fate of local homeless residents but could also set precedents influencing how other cities navigate the significant challenges of homelessness. Amid nationwide attention on the issue, this legal confrontation signals the rising waves of advocacy dedicated to creating more reasonable and humane treatments for society’s most vulnerable.
The continuing challenges associated with homelessness remain vivid across Oregon and the nation, especially with numbers on the rise. Each legal challenge becomes not merely about regulations and enforcement but about asserting the dignity and humanity of those who face extreme hardships daily, reflecting larger issues of social and economic disparity.
For now, the entire community watches closely as this lawsuit plays out, hoping for resolutions fostering empathy and respect for every individual, regardless of their housing status.