NLIHC, the National Homelessness Law Center (NHLC), National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH), and National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH) invite advocates across the nation to participate in a National Week of Action starting on April 22! Together, we will oppose counterproductive and inhumane efforts to punish and arrest people experiencing homelessness and advocate for the only real solution to the homelessness crisis: safe, stable, affordable housing.
On April 22, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson, the most significant court case about the rights of people experiencing homelessness in decades. The court will decide whether communities that have failed to address the need for affordable housing and shelter can punish unhoused people for nothing more than sleeping outside with a pillow or blanket with tickets, fines, and arrests, even when there are no other safe or adequate housing or shelter options available.
In preparation for the National Week of Action, NLIHC, NHLC, NCH, and NAEH have released a new advocacy toolkit with all the resources you’ll need to participate, including:
- Background information on the court case.
- Advocacy tips and resources.
- Ideas for how advocates can take action.
- Key talking points.
- Sample social media messages, op-eds, and letters to the editor.
We know what it takes to end homelessness and housing poverty; we hope you will join us in building the political will to do so.
Take Action!
Your elected officials need to hear from you, from people directly impacted by homelessness, and from other advocates in your community!
Ways to take action:
- Join national leaders, people with lived experience, and allies in Washington, D.C., on April 22 on the steps of the Supreme Court for a national event! RSVP here.
- Use the new advocacy toolkit to plan an event during the week of April 22 in your local community, such as:
- Meeting with your local, state, or federal elected officials to discuss the real solutions to homelessness.
- Hosting a roundtable or other gathering where people with lived experience of homelessness can share their stories with elected officials.
- Hosting a teach-in, film screening, or other educational event.
- Writing an op-ed or letter to the editor.
- Amplifying social media from National Homelessness Law Center (@homeless_law) and others.
- Bringing your elected officials on a site visit to an affordable housing development or other program in your community.
- Participate in local rallies hosted by homelessness advocates. Local actions will be announced on www.johnsonvgrantspass.com.