Missouri Supreme Court Ruling: A Landmark Decision for Homeless Rights
The Missouri Supreme Court recently delivered a unanimous ruling that has significant implications for homeless individuals and public workers in the state. The court struck down a law that threatened homeless people with jail time for sleeping on state land. The law also banned COVID-19 vaccine requirements for public workers and prohibited state funding from being used for permanent housing for homeless people.
Implications of the Ruling
This landmark ruling means that unhoused individuals no longer face potential jail time and fines for sleeping on state land without permission. In addition, vaccine mandates for public workers are now allowed in Missouri, and state funding can be used for permanent housing for homeless individuals.
Advocates’ Arguments
Advocates for homeless people argued that lawmakers overlooked the real problem of affordable housing and offered no real mental-health or substance-abuse solutions in the bill. They also criticized attempts to justify criminalizing homelessness as a means of improving outcomes for homeless individuals.
Public Pressure and Encampment Clearances
Clearances of homeless encampments increased in various cities as public pressure grew to address dangerous and unsanitary living conditions. For instance, a once-busy homeless encampment near the Gateway Arch in St. Louis was cleared after nearly a year of debate.
Judges’ Focus and Rationale
The Supreme Court judges ruled against the law without discussing the potential impact of the homelessness policy, instead focusing on whether the issue fits under the bill’s subject: political subdivisions. They found that the connection between homelessness and political subdivisions was remote and, in some instances, completely missing.
Legislative Response
The lawmaker who spearheaded the homelessness provisions has left office, and currently, no other legislators have filed bills to reinstate the policy. A proposed legislation aiming to relax the homelessness provisions is likely to be withdrawn in response to the court ruling.
Future Legislative Session
Missouri’s next legislative session begins in January, and potential responses or changes related to homeless policies are anticipated.
