AWHA Statement on Johnson v. Grants Pass SCOTUS Decision
PRESS RELEASE
We at A Way Home America (AWHA) are saddened that the Supreme Court of the United States failed to protect the rights of our homeless and unhoused people living in communities surrounding the decision of Johnson v. Grants Pass. Our mission is to transform systems through public policy to prevent and end homelessness for Black, Indigenous, youth of color, and LGBTQIA+ youth, on a path to housing justice for all. So it goes without saying that this decision presents profound barriers to the populations we serve. In spite of this setback, A Way Home America knows that right now it is even more crucial than ever to reinforce our resolve and do what we can to progress our essential mission. Which begs the question “How do we move from here?”.
There are many solutions and strategies to move forward, among them are things like: demonstration, direct service, and public policy. Policy is where we specialize, and we know it to be a powerful tool with great promise. We are a leader in the youth homelessness policy movement and we recognize the need for targeted universalism in our policy approach. Youth homelessness exists today largely due to America’s long history of structural racism and systemic inequities. Young BIPOC persons are often made invisible in mainstream conversations and media about housing and homelessness. This combination of impact and erasure just further ensures individuals from these communities fall through the cracks of care. So we must target those most-impacted to dismantle the system that disadvantages all communities.
In Recommendation 5 of our 118th Congressional Policy Agenda we cite that, “The challenge of youth homelessness and housing instability is more pronounced among BIPOC youth ages 13 to 25, with 11% of American Indian and Alaskan Indian youth experiencing homelessness during a year, 7% of Black youth, and 7% of Hispanic youth relative to 4% of White, non-Hispanic youth."
Arrests will not only continue the cycle of violence among people who have already been thoroughly violated, but it will also generate new violence to those on the fringes of impact and beyond.
AWHA, in partnership with our Youth Policy Team, commits to fighting for policy solutions like that of our policy agenda and our New Deal to End Youth Homelessness to support the Movement. We will also continue to break down silos among our peer organizations, to whom we are so grateful.
Additionally, our allies at the National Homelessness Law Center are urgently calling on the Biden administration and Congress to allocate at least $356 billion in the coming year, with ongoing funding in future years, to guarantee safe, decent, and affordable housing for all. This includes:
Universal rental assistance for the lowest-income households
Repair and preservation of public housing
Full funding of the National Housing Trust Fund
Robust eviction and homelessness prevention programs
Comprehensive supportive and emergency services
We always knew that this fight was long from over. We will not let this obstacle, heart wrenching as it may be, deter us from our mission. We urge our community to mourn the loss of the opportunity presented in this case, but do NOT lose hope. There is too much at stake and there is simply too much worthwhile work to do.
With great determination,
The A Way Home America Staff
