Join the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, and the National Homelessness Law Center for an essential discussion on Wednesday, August 28, 2 - 3:30 PM ET on "What the Grants Pass Decision Means for People with Disabilities."
On June 28, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a case called City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson (“Grants Pass”) that fining and jailing people experiencing homelessness for sleeping outside when they have nowhere else to go does not violate the cruel and unusual punishments clause of the constitution. The decision has given states and local governments the go ahead to make criminalization their primary, front-line response to homelessness and has had devastating effects on the civil rights of thousands of unhoused people across the United States.
This webinar will: - Provide an overview of the Grants Pass case and the disability-related “friend of the court” briefs filed in the case;
- Explain why people with disabilities are particularly at-risk of harm due to the increased criminalization of homelessness;
- Explore the relationship between the Grants Pass case, CARE Courts / civil commitments, and efforts to increase the institutionalization of disabled people;
- Critique the role of law enforcement and judicial authorities in responding to homelessness; and
- Provide an overview of advocacy tools and strategic thinking regarding potential next steps in advocacy.
Speakers: - Michelle Uzeta, Deputy Legal Director, Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund
- Monica Porter Gilbert, Policy & Legal Advocacy Attorney, Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
- Siya Hegde, Staff Attorney, National Homelessness Law Center
REGISTER TODAY.
**ASL and CART (live captions) provided. Contact Diana Vega at dvega@dredf.org for any accommodations you may need by August 21st. Late requests may not be possible to fill. | 
