Recently, the United States Supreme Court ruled on the case of “Grants Pass v. Johnson”, determining that the public camping ban in public places for the homeless does not violate the U.S. Constitution. Orange County Board of Supervisors Chairman Donald Wagner issued a statement on the same day praising the Supreme Court’s decision.
Wagner stated on June 28th that the Supreme Court’s morning ruling “empowers states and localities to respond swiftly and appropriately to the unique homeless issues in their areas,” and expressed gratitude for the opportunity given to restore some traditional methods to safeguard community safety, maintain quality of life, and do critical work for the homeless.
He mentioned that the 2018 case of “Martin v. Boise” was disappointing, but now “elected county and city leaders should have the power restored by the court to determine the best way to address homeless issues.”
In 2018, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in California ruled in the “Martin v. Boise” case that if cities do not provide sufficient shelter beds for the homeless, they cannot enforce public camping bans. This was based on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution prohibiting cruel and unusual punishment.
In 2019, the Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal of this case, upholding the Ninth Circuit’s ruling. In 2021, the city of Boise spent $1.3 million to increase shelter space and paid $435,000 in legal fees to plaintiff Martin, agreeing not to arrest or cite individuals for sleeping on the streets when there are not enough shelter beds available.
In recent years, the homeless population in California, including Orange County, has been steadily increasing. On May 8th, Orange County released a report on the homeless population in 2024, with a total of 7,322 homeless individuals, out of which 3,149 have shelter, and 4,173 do not. Overall, the homeless population has grown by 28% (1,600 people) from 2022 to 2024.
Looking at a five-year trend from 2019 to 2024, Orange County saw a 7% increase in its homeless population. During the same period, the average homeless population in California increased by 20%, and Los Angeles County saw a 29% increase.
According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) data, in 2023, the number of homeless individuals in the United States reached a historic high, with California having the highest number exceeding 180,000 people, followed by New York with over 100,000, and Florida with just over 30,000. Factors contributing to this increase include rising housing costs, a surge in immigration, and the end of many COVID-19 relief programs.
Wagner stated, “In Orange County, we will not abandon the homeless, nor will we use the court’s decision to abandon our commitment.” He emphasized that the root causes of homelessness, such as substance abuse, mental illness, and economic hardships, must be addressed before expecting homeless individuals to successfully overcome their situations.
Local officials will respond based on individual circumstances, he added, and he hopes that the state government will continue to provide crucial funding to localities rather than using mismanagement of state finances as an excuse to reduce their role in helping those most in need.
In recent years, Orange County has not only constructed temporary shelters, shelters, and permanent housing but has also established or is in the process of building facilities such as “Be Well OC” for mental and behavioral health services, providing services for psychological therapy and addressing substance abuse issues.
According to ABC7, Orange County Board of Supervisors District 1 Supervisor Andrew Do stated in May, “Our coordinated care services have created a capability that allows the county to absorb the adverse factors leading to an increase in homelessness in society and to maintain them at a fairly stable level within five years,” “7% is very low… I am very proud to see the situation in surrounding counties.”
According to security.org, the top 5 cities in the U.S. with the highest homeless populations are New York City with over 88,000, Los Angeles with over 71,000, Seattle with over 14,000, San Diego with over 10,000, and Denver with over 10,000.
Situated between Los Angeles and San Diego Counties, Orange County’s CEO Frank Kim stated in May that cooperation not only within Orange County’s cities but also with neighboring counties is crucial, noting that “we understand that the homeless can move from one city to another, from one county to another,” and “this is key, we succeed together or fail together.”