From CHN: This week on our Voices for Human Needs Blog
RJ Hamster
Dear Peter ,
In case you missed it…this week the Voices for Human Needs blog reports on a just-released U.S. Supreme Court ruling that allows local jurisdictions to criminalize homelessness — a misguided policy decision that could make the problem much worse. And we report on a letter to Congress — signed by more than 1,100 groups — opposing deep and inhumane cuts to human needs programs as part of the ongoing appropriations process. Finally, in case you missed it, we commend the Biden Administration for its efforts to protect families with an undocumented spouse as well as help certain DACA recipients and other Dreamers obtain work visas. Meanwhile, if you know of colleagues, friends, family members or others who you think should subscribe to the weekly Voices blog summary, please encourage them to do so here.
This week on the blog…
‘This cruel, misguided ruling will only worsen homelessness’
June 28
The U.S. Supreme Court Friday ruled that local jurisdictions may ticket and arrest unhoused people for sleeping outside in public places, even when adequate shelter or housing is not available. The 6-3 decision in City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson, with Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Ketanji Brown Jackson, and Elena Kagan dissenting, immediately drew scathing criticism from advocates for the unhoused. READ MORE »
Groups tell Congress: Don’t cut the programs that meet our needs
June 27
More than 1,100 organizations from all across the country have signed a letter to congressional leaders, calling on Congress to provide enough funding in next year’s appropriations bills to “invest the amounts needed to meet the needs of our country and protect American competitiveness, economic strength, security, and services critical to families and individuals” and to reject “poison pill policy riders.” So far, the House Committee on Appropriations has been producing exactly the kinds of funding bills this very large number of groups oppose. READ MORE
