LEX LIBRA LAW’s Post

🏡 Criminalizing homelessness is not the answer. As cities await the Supreme Court's decision in Grants Pass v. Johnson, it's crucial to focus on expanding access to affordable housing and support services. Our blog post shares strategies for creating more humane and effective solutions. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/grbenxpq #HousingForAll #CommunityDevelopment #SocialJustice

National Homelessness Law Center #February15 #webinar #GrantsPass #v. #Johnson: "What You Need to Know About The Supreme Court Case on Criminalization of Homelessness, Why It Matters, & What You Can Do About It."

When you think of preventing #YouthHomelessness, what comes to mind? While you might not initially think of a lawyer or other legal professionals, their role in preventing and helping youth exit homelessness is often critical. Learn more: https://ow.ly/8HSb50Tn4YS

JMPD, SAPS and all other law enforcement agencies are not trained nor legally authorised to carry out evictions and demolitions of people’s homes! Section 4 (11) of the PIE Act, which states that “the sheriff must at all times be present during” an “eviction, demolition or removal”, clearly excludes all law enforcement agencies (public or private) from embarking on their own eviction, demolition or removal of people from their homes, with or without a court order, absence the sheriff’s presence and directions. The primary purpose of ection 4 (11) of the PIE Act is to help ensure that evictions from homes are lawfully, orderly and humanely carried out as required by section 26 of the Constitution. Most importantly, any eviction that leads to homelessness can never be deemed to be just and equitable. What befell the residents of Rabie Ridge does not reflect the ethos of South Africa’s Constitutional Democracy. https://lnkd.in/d8CqUQmK

On April 24, Portland Commissioners moved legislation forward that will impose a $1,000 fine on Portland residents simply for being homeless. Punishing poor residents with massive fines is not only heartless, ineffective, and expensive, but also unconstitutional. Portlanders deserve effective policy and humane services from their government that prioritizes #CivilRights and #HousingNotHandcuffs. We must ensure that our laws are just. #JohnsonVsGrantsPass

#Legalupdate: The Supreme Court's recent ruling on homeless camps was important for #localgov, but it isn't the end of litigation on this issue. The next wrinkle: can zoning laws that prohibit a church from allowing homeless to camp on their property violate the 1st Amendment protection for religious expression? Yes, according to a recent federal ruling, absent a compelling local interest. It's a narrow case and will surely be appealed, but there are more cases to come that will further clarify local powers on this subject. #codeenforcement #municipal #localgovernment #citymanager #citymanagement #publicsafety Civica Law Group, APC Civic Business Journal PublicCEO California JPIA Western City Magazine ICC Orange Empire Chapter International Code Council American Association of Municipal Executives American Association of Code Enforcement California Association Of Code Enforcement Officers https://lnkd.in/gdjbfpPB

Attention partners and advocates: On April 22, the Supreme Court will hear Johnson v. Grant's Pass, a landmark case on the rights of individuals experiencing homelessness. We urge you to join us in supporting an amicus brief that highlights the impacts of criminalizing homelessness. This brief, coordinated with the National Homelessness Law Center and others, needs your sign-on by April 1, 5 PM. Learn more and take action: johnsonvgrantspass.com. Together, we can make a difference. #EndHomelessnessCT

Want a comprehensive overview of the Grants Pass Supreme Court case and the state of policies criminalizing homelessness across the country? Check out this article: https://lnkd.in/gasUQxM2

Crime-free nuisance ordinances (CFNOs) don’t keep communities safe. CFNOs are promoted as preventing crimes when these laws in fact cause harm to people who pose no risks. Under these municipal laws, landlords can: - evict victims of domestic violence and people with disabilities for contacting emergency services like the police or paramedics - deny housing to people who’ve encountered the criminal legal system, leaving many homeless That’s why the Shriver Center serves in a coalition dedicated to passing the Community Safety Through Stable Homes Act. We wrote about how the law would protect vulnerable communities from unfair discrimination and keep families in their homes. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gu3_7HFG

The law has changed today, with adaptations to the Family Procedure Rule. These changes centre around Non-Court Dispute Resolution and include the changing of terminology such as updating "domestic violence" to "domestic abuse". Read all about these changes, and how they impact families, in Michelle's latest blog at: https://lnkd.in/e7M2gdT4 #familylaw #family