'Going to make our work harder': Local advocates bemoan SCOTUS Grants Pass decision

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- People living on Portland's streets and those working to connect them to food, clothing and shelter reacted Friday to the Supreme Court's Grants Pass decision.

The 6-3 ruling leaves it up to the cities and state to decide how they want to deal with the issue of homeless camps.

At 23-years old, a man named Romeo told KOIN 6 News he's been homeless for two years, but working to get into housing. He said the court's decision could impact his ability to get into housing because he has "nowhere else to go."

"People are trying to get their lives together and everything," he added. "And a lot of people don't deserve to go to jail for camping."

While the ruling won't immediately go into effect, local humanitarian organizations say they're concerned it could lay the groundwork for harsher penalties against an already vulnerable population.

"This does not change the problem. It merely just hides the people," said Kat Mahoney, Executive Director of Sisters of the Road.

"This decision really does make our work more difficult," added Liz Starke, Development Director for Rose Haven. "Because when people have additional fines or jail time, that's ultimately getting them further and further away from their goals and sustainability."

"This isn't a time to ring our hands," Starke emphasized. "It's a time to put our arms around one another and come together."

Stricter camping bans, increased sweeps and over-policing are among some of the other major concerns shared by those working to stabilize Portland's homeless population.

"We know that our jails will become overcrowded," Mahoney said. "And we know the cost to jail someone is much higher than the cost to house them."

Scott Kerman, Executive Director of Blanchet House told KOIN 6 while the court's decision finalizes long standing questions about the constitutionality of criminalizing homelessness, it doesn't change or address the needs of thousands sleeping outside without enough shelter or resources.

"We really consider this to be a life-or-death situation for many people," voiced Kerman. "And no Supreme Court decision or ordinance is necessarily going to solve for that."

Beyond this ruling, the City's camping ordinance is slated to go into effect on Monday.