SFCCC Statement on Supreme Court Decision in Grants Pass v. Johnson

As community health experts serving a large number of people experiencing homelessness, the San Francisco Community Clinic Consortium (SFCCC) was saddened to learn about the Supreme Court’s decision in Grants Pass v. Johnson.

SFCCC’s Health Care for the Homeless program serves residents through a mobile outreach service (known as Street Outreach Services, or SOS) and connection to primary, behavioral health and specialty care. Our outreach workers see every day how difficult it is to manage chronic illnesses, treat behavioral health problems, and maintain good nutrition and hygiene without stable housing.

A large study by UCSF using a representative sample of over 3,000 people experiencing homelessness resulted in researchers noting that “unsheltered homelessness is ‘devastating’ to people’s health”. San Francisco’s Point in Time 2022 count found similar statistics, with sixty percent (60%) of respondents reporting living with one or more health conditions including chronic physical illnesses, physical disabilities, chronic substance use, and severe mental health conditions. Thirty-nine percent (39%) of respondents reported their condition limited their ability to hold a job, live in stable housing, or take care of themselves.

As members of a community that works daily to ameliorate the devastating health effects of homelessness, we urge all levels of government to focus on the prevention and resolution of homelessness. This court decision may impact localities’ response to homeless people, but it does nothing to build housing, prevent homelessness, or provide for the basic needs of those who are homeless or marginally housed.