The National Homelessness Law Center is a national organization dedicated to using the power of the law to end and prevent homelessness and to protect the rights of people experiencing homelessness. On this episode of In the KNOW, host David Winstead is joined by their Executive Director, Antonia Fasanelli, to discuss the state of homelessness across the County, in Maryland and here in Montgomery County and to discuss some of the actions they are taking to protect the rights and lives of unhoused people.
On January 12th, the Supreme Court announced that they would hear the case of Johnson v. Grants Pass. This is the most significant Supreme Court case about homelessness in decades. At its core, this case is about cruelty toward unhoused people who have no place to sleep. It will decide whether cities can punish people for things like sleeping outside with a pillow or blanket, even when there are no safe shelter options. The National Homelessness Law Center is committed to ensuring that the Supreme Court affirms the truth that all people, regardless of where they sleep, are covered under the Constitution’s protections against Cruel and Unusual Punishment. Since the announcement the Law Center has mobilized hundreds of coalition partners, coordinated “friend of the court” briefs, and launched a national communications effort.
In this interview you can learn more about the history of Johnson v. Grants Pass and about what can be done to help end homelessness and defend the rights of all unhoused individuals.
Learn more about NHLC at homelesslaw.org.