Court rulings unlock homeless enforcement

A string of court decisions (notably Grants Pass v. Johnson) has removed constitutional obstacles that once prevented cities from clearing encampments unless universal shelter existed, enabling local officials to reintroduce camping bans and criminal sanctions. That judicial shift, combined with ballot measures like California’s Prop. 36, is driving a practical retreat from unconditional 'Housing First' orthodoxy toward accountability‑and‑enforcement models. — If sustained, this legal–political shift will reshape municipal homelessness strategies nationwide and make midterm and local elections pivotal for whether enforcement or housing-centric approaches dominate.