Illegal to Sleep: Grants Pass’ Cruel War on Homelessness
325,776
Published 2024-04-18
Our investigation dives deep into the daily struggles of homeless people trying to survive in the rain and cold. The documentary covers the impending Supreme Court case, Grants Pass v. Johnson, which challenges the city’s public camping ban under the Eighth Amendment's clause against "cruel and unusual punishments." This historic case questions whether it's constitutional to penalize the homeless for sleeping outdoors when they have no other shelter options.
Grants Pass officials argue for the need to reclaim public spaces, while advocates for the homeless warn of the dire consequences of criminalizing homelessness. This video highlights the personal stories of affected individuals and explores the broader societal and legal implications. Join us as we shed light on this critical issue, examining the intersection of law, policy, and human rights in a community divided on how to treat its most vulnerable residents. Watch as we unfold the layers of this complex issue, leading up to a landmark decision that could reshape the landscape of homelessness across America.
For more information and how you can get involved, visit johnsonvgrantspass.com/
This video is a partnership between Invisible People and the National Homelessness Law Center housingnothandcuffs.org/
Executive producer: Mark Horvath
Producer/editor/cinematographer: Alex Gasaway / youtube.com/alexgasaway
Additional footage: Cody Wanner / @rcodywanner
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From a Tent to a Home: No Longer Homeless • From a Tent to a Home: No Longer Home...
#grantspass #homeless #homelessness
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About Invisible People
There is a direct correlation between what the general public perceives about homelessness and how it affects policy change. Most people blame homelessness on the person experiencing it instead of the increasing shortage of affordable housing, lack of employment, childhood trauma, lack of a living wage, or the countless reasons that put a person at risk. This lack of understanding creates a dangerous cycle of misperception that leads to the inability to effectively address the root causes of homelessness.
We imagine a world where everyone has a place to call home. Each day, we work to fight homelessness by giving it a face while educating individuals about the systemic issues that contribute to its existence. Through storytelling, education, news, and activism, we are changing the narrative on homelessness.
This isn’t just talk. Our groundbreaking educational content reaches millions of people every month. Our real and unfiltered stories of homelessness shatter stereotypes, demand attention and deliver a call-to-action that is being answered by governments, major brands, nonprofit organizations, and everyday citizens just like you.
However, there is more work to be done on the road ahead. Homelessness is undoubtedly one of our biggest societal issues today and will only continue to grow if we don’t take action now.
Invisible People is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to educating the public about homelessness through innovative storytelling, news, and advocacy. Since our launch in 2008, Invisible People has become a pioneer and trusted resource for inspiring action and raising awareness in support of advocacy, policy change and thoughtful dialogue around poverty in North America and the United Kingdom.
All Comments (21)
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Displaced: When Surviving Homelessness is a Crime https://youtu.be/eww5Ztb0ztY?si=I3t0P_HYwNc1D6v5
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Having all this misery and sending billions and billions of dollars to finance wars abroad ,it is inhuman and evil
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Why are we helping everyone in the world except homeless Americans in need?
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I live in a small town in Texas, I was at a laundry mat when I saw this man sitting outside on the concrete, everyone was just ignoring him. I went over to talk to him , said he needed something to eat so I bought him lunch and gave him some money. No one ever stopped to see about him. I thought what if that was me? What if it happens to you one day?
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How can a country throw so much money into foreign aid when their own citizens are homeless with nothing?
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8 months ago, I was homeless while working a full time job. I was homeless for YEARS. I didn’t use drugs or drink. I just could not afford these insane rent prices alone. I got extremely lucky and found a way out. What is happening is an outrage!! This video got me a bit emotional. These folks are already down enough. I will never forget the feeling of hopelessness. Kicking people while they are down is NOT the solution. We are not supposed to knock people down further, we are supposed to lift people up. God bless the individuals who are helping the unhoused survive that nightmare and God bless you Mark for bringing awareness to such a disgusting situation. Also, that one shelter is not behaving very Christian-like. Disgusting.
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Sleep deprivation is a known torture method.
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Homelessness won't go away because there's no money or profit in it.
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The people who would attack a homeless person are a bigger danger to our community than the homeless people in it.
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US has plenty of money to supply weapons to Israel and Ukraine but not enough $$ to help its own citizens.
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If they gonna put a ban on homeless they have to put a ban on rent costing an average persons full paycheck.
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The lack of compassion being shown here is absolutely staggering.
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Casting out the disabled, elderly & children is the lowest a government or organization can go. I hope one day those who turn away these people get to experience homelessness themselves.
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The American Government should be ashamed of themselves for treating people like this.
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All the money we give to non citizens and we in America wont take care of our own.. just SICK
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I've been homeless for 2 years now. I suffer mentally from 10+ years in an abusive marriage. Almost every program I've applied for I've been turned down. Told point blank there are no programs here for abused men.
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Before the lady said it, I already knew that was one of the issues, that some homeless people have pets… They either had pets when they became homeless or they found a homeless dog or cat, while they were homeless, and tried to help them… There should be shelters for people to go to WITH their pets. This housing crisis is not only affecting people but it is affecting animals as well… The number of cats and dogs being killed in shelters around the country is unprecedented… are, and there are several reasons for that, but pretty high up on the list is landlords that will not allow pets. I’ve been rescuing animals for over 30 years and I’ve never seen anything like it. Yes, people need help, but the animals need help right along with people… All lives matter.
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We need to have an HONEST conversation about what is causing this epidemic of homelessness. If we are not allowed to talk about it, we cannot fix it.
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Americans seem to have lost a lot of basic sense towards their people in their own country
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I work in GP and I know that a lot of people in southern Oregon we want better conditions and we want a solution that’s fair for everyone but a lot of us are working 3 jobs and barely able to afford our own housing, we can’t support others financially even if we want to more than anything. Southern Oregon as a whole NEEDS more housing and we need more effective rent control policies. These rental companies snatching up every available home and turning a profit and then private landlords seeing your survival as a full time job. It’s just terrible. Even if you want to move it’s impossible to save enough to do that and pay your rent.
