Grants Pass: Oregon city at heart of high court homelessness ruling
Story by Claire Rush:
The small Oregon city at the heart of a recent landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling that allows cities to enforce outdoor sleeping bans has voted to prohibit camping but establish certain areas where homeless people can go.The Grants Pass City Council voted 7-0 to ban camping on public property such as parks and create four sites across the city where homeless people can set up their tents.The move marks the city’s first change to its anti-camping laws since the high court’s June decision paved the way for outdoor sleeping bans across the country.
Cassy Leach, a nurse who leads a group of volunteers providing food, medical care, and other basic goods to hundreds of homeless people living in the parks, talks to a homeless person on Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Grants Pass, Ore.
Vehicles drive down Rogue River Highway as light shines on the area March 23, 2024, in Grants Pass, Ore.
Cassy Leach, a nurse, who leads a group of volunteers who provide food, medical care and other basic goods to the hundreds of homeless people living in the parks, walks to help homeless people camping in Fruitdale Park move their tents on Saturday, March 23, 2024, in Grants Pass, Ore.
Nichole McKendrick holds her two daughters as she speaks after getting free food at Riverside Park on Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Grants Pass, Ore. McKendrick has been living out of a vehicle with her two girls.
A homeless child plays in the park after receiving free food with her mother and sister, in Riverside Park, March 21, 2024, in Grants Pass, Ore. On Friday, June 28, the Supreme Court ruled that cities can enforce bans on homeless people sleeping outdoors in West Coast areas where shelter space is lacking.
A homeless person adjusts the jacket after receiving it from another under Redwood Highway near Baker Park, Friday, March 22, 2024, in Grants Pass, Ore. The rural city of Grants Pass in southern Oregon became the unlikely face of the nation’s homelessness crisis as its case over anti-camping laws went to the U.S. Supreme Court. (
A man plays with his dog in Baker Park next to his tent, at left, after using the stick to help the stream of water flow better on Friday, March 22, 2024, in Grants Pass, Ore.
Laura Gutowski tears up while speaking to the Associated Press, Saturday, March 23, 2024, at Fruidale Park in Grants Pass, Ore. Gutowski’s life was upended when her husband died from a pulmonary embolism. Suddenly, in her 50s, she found herself with no income. They didn’t have life insurance or savings, and about a month after his passing, she was sleeping outside in the city she grew up in. “I used to love camping,” she said through tears. “I loved the outdoors. And now I can’t stand it anymore.”
Kevin Reeves looks at his puppy while in his tent in Baker Park on Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Grants Pass, Ore.
A volunteer checks in with David Wilson near his tent in Riverside Park on Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Grants Pass, Ore. Wilson was among those getting free food and breakfast brought by volunteers to the park that morning.
Brock Spurgeon speaks during an interview with the Associated Press on Friday, March 22, 2024, in Grants Pass, Ore. Spurgeon is a member of a self-proclaimed “park watch” group. Spurgeon said the group isn’t against homeless people, but rather public drug use: One of his sons is living in the parks as he struggles with addiction, and his brother died while homeless in a nearby city.
A family photo rests on a chair at the home of Brock Spurgeon on Friday, March 22, 2024, in Grants Pass, Ore. Spurgeon is a member of a self-proclaimed “park watch” group. Spurgeon said the group isn’t against homeless people, but rather public drug use: One of his sons, Jack, seen at left in the photo on the chair, is living in the parks as he struggles with addiction.
With Fruitdale Elementary School in the background, a homeless man adjusts his shoe at Fruitdale Park, March 23, 2024, in Grants Pass, Ore.
Myles Baida plays pickleball after emergency responders put a homeless person in an ambulance on Saturday, March 23, 2024, in Grants Pass, Ore. Relatives had called police and requested a welfare check.
With Fruitdale Elementary School in the background, a Grants Pass police officer walks to check on a homeless person after relatives asked for a welfare check at Fruitdale Park on Saturday, March 23, 2024, in Grants Pass, Ore.
Thomas Person, a resident at the Gospel Rescue Mission, sits on their bed before dinner on Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Grants Pass, Ore. Person arrived at the shelter on March 18.
Cassy Leach, seated second from left next to two empty seats, watches community members react in a City Council meeting to questions about whether public comment would be heard after a veto by Grants Pass Mayor Sara Bristol on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, in Grants Pass, Ore. Leach is a nurse and volunteer who helps homeless people in Grants Pass. Some residents want to limit homeless outreach efforts parks. The City Council proposed requiring outreach groups to register with the city.
A teenager who was walking by stops to hold a sign as a member of the self-proclaimed “park watch” group walks to speak with them outside City Hall on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, in Grants Pass, Ore.
A used needle is seen next to orange syringe caps on the ground on Friday, March 22, 2024, in Baker Park in Grants Pass, Ore.
Brian Wright, center, prays during bible study at Gospel Rescue Mission, Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Grants Pass, Ore.
A resident at the Gospel Rescue Mission homeless shelter watches a report by KDRV NewsWatch 12 on the community raising money for tiny homes while eating dinner Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Grants Pass, Ore.
A homeless person tries to use a lighter to smoke drugs on Friday, March 22, 2024, in Grants Pass, Ore.
A group of teenagers watch as a homeless person rides a bike past them in Riverside Park, Friday, March 22, 2024, in Grants Pass, Ore.
A volunteer holds on to a wheelchair as they help Trevellian "Max" Hartfelt get into his tent after relocation on Saturday, March 23, 2024, in Grants Pass, Ore.
Emergency responders walk to a tent after a welfare check was called in by relatives on Saturday, March 23, 2024, in Grants Pass, Ore.
A resident at Gospel Rescue Mission, an overnight shelter for adults, waits for medication after dinner on Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Grants Pass, Ore.
A homeless person sits next to a window displaying houses for sale on Saturday, March 23, 2024, in Grants Pass, Ore.
A rainbow appears over the downtown area of Grants Pass, Friday, March 22, 2024.