LANCASTER, September 14, 2024 – State Senator Katie Muth (D-Chester/Montgomery/Berks), chairwoman of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Policy Committee, joined State Senator Nikil Saval (D-Philadelphia) and State Representative Ismail Smith-Wade-El (D-Lancaster) to host a joint policy hearing to discuss homelessness and the housing crisis in Pennsylvania.
Yesterday, Lancaster City Hall hosted a hearing that featured two panel discussions that explored the experiences of homeless people in Pennsylvania and how City of Grants Pass vs. Johnson The Supreme Court ruling gives local governments the courage to arrest and punish homeless people and those sleeping scratchy.
“Homelessness and our overall housing crisis are issues that all 67 counties need to address — it’s a dignity issue, not just a big city problem. No one wants to be homeless, but those who are need our help — they don’t need their existence criminalized,” Muth said. “Legislative leaders at all levels of government must protect the human rights of all individuals and must prioritize initiatives and legislation that address the underlying social and economic factors contributing to homelessness — low wages, lack of affordable housing, domestic violence and mental health.”
In June, a majority decision of 6-3 City of Grants Pass vs. JohnsonThe U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that cities can enforce bans on sleeping outdoors even if they have nowhere else to go. The court argued that such a ban does not violate the Eighth Amendment’s protection against cruel and unusual punishment by criminalizing sleeping in public. Grants Pass This decision allows local authorities to impose criminal penalties for acts such as camping in public places and sleeping in public places, even if the individuals do not have enough shelter space to provide shelter for the homeless section of the community.
“When people lose their homes, they don’t expect to be homeless for decades—our system keeps them trapped. We need to fight the criminalization of our neighbors who can’t afford homes. We need bold, effective policy responses that recognize our homes as essential goods. We are public spaces that are inclusive and accessible to all,” Saval said. “Pennsylvanians have signaled that our homes and our communities are top priorities. Our Commonwealth must do everything it can to work with advocates and organizers and pass legislation to address housing as a human right.”
The hearing also focused on policy priorities in Pennsylvania that could address homelessness and improve the availability and affordability of housing in the commonwealth. Some suggestions included funding for eviction prevention programs and short-lived emergency shelters, increasing funding for housing vouchers, increasing Pennsylvania’s minimum wage and increasing lasting housing options for low-income residents.
“With its ruling, the Supreme Court effectively criminalized homelessness, City of Grants Pass, Oregon vs. Johnson“Smith-Wade-El said. “The United States Supreme Court has approved the incarceration of people who have been evicted from their homes, who have not been able to find affordable housing, who have not been able to find shelter because our homeless shelters are overflowing with other vulnerable people. It would be cheaper to provide affordable housing in Pennsylvania, but instead, because of this decision, we are going to spend our taxpayer dollars to incarcerate people instead of housing them. At its core, this decision makes it illegal to be poor, and thousands, if not millions, will be harmed by this decision.”
Participants in the hearing included Dr. William A. Fife Jr., MD, AAHIVS – Lancaster General Health Physician; Sterling K. Johnson and Wiley Cunningham, organizers with Philadelphia Action Housing; Eric Tars, Senior Director of Policy at the National Homelessness Law Center; and Dr. Jennifer Frank, Associate Professor and BASW Coordinator at Millersville University.
Also attending the hearing were state Rep. Perry Warren (D-Bucks), state Rep. Danielle Friel-Otten (D-Chester) and state Rep. Joe Webster (D-Montgomery).
For more information about this policy hearing, and to access all of the testimony and the full recording of today’s hearing, please visit www.SenatorMuth.com/policy.
