Remote Surveillance Trailer in Grants Pass, OR

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision last year in Grants Pass v. Johnson is a blow to communities across the country, especially ours here in Anchorage. By ruling that cities can fine or arrest people for sleeping outside—even when there’s no shelter available—the Court has effectively given municipalities permission to criminalize homelessness.

This ruling doesn’t address the root causes of homelessness. It doesn’t create more shelter beds. It doesn’t fund affordable housing. And it certainly doesn’t offer people a path out of poverty. Instead, it pushes the crisis further into the shadows, making it harder for service providers like ours to do the work that truly helps.

Anchorage is already grappling with a severe shortage of housing and shelter space. We don’t have enough beds for the people who need them, especially in the face of rising rents, a strained behavioral health system, and extreme winter conditions. Arresting someone for sleeping outside when they have nowhere else to go isn’t just ineffective — it’s cruel.

We don’t need more punishment. We need more solutions.

The path forward must be grounded in compassion, not criminalization. That means investing in permanent housing, expanding access to mental health and substance use treatment, and strengthening shelter systems. It means listening to data and to the voices of those with lived experience.

Henning Inc. will continue to walk alongside our unhoused neighbors and fight for a just and humane response to homelessness. Because everyone deserves dignity — and a place to call home.

Shawn Hays is founder and executive director of Henning Inc., an Anchorage nonprofit that contracts with the city to provide shelter, housing navigation and other services to people experiencing homelessness.

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By Vanguard Staff

It has been a year since the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Grants Pass v. Johnson, a landmark case that would determine whether unhoused people can be ticketed, fined, or arrested simply for sleeping outside when no shelter is available. But for people like Helen Cruz—a lifelong resident of Grants Pass, Oregon—the past year has brought not relief, but worsening conditions.

“Homelessness in Grants Pass—and nationwide—has gotten worse,” Cruz wrote in a reflection published by the Western Regional Advocacy Project. “And it didn’t need to.”

On April 22, 2024, Cruz stood in front of the Supreme Court with over 700 advocates demanding real solutions: housing, not handcuffs. But what followed was a decision that, in her words, “shamefully decided that homeless people are not included in the Constitution’s protections against cruel and unusual punishment.” The ruling has allowed cities across the country to double down on anti-homeless ordinances that fine or jail people simply for existing in public spaces.

The effects have been brutal. Cruz describes the situation in Grants Pass, where over 300 unhoused residents were forcibly relocated to a large fenced-off area with no shelter from extreme heat or cold. “Many of them experienced skin burns from their bare contact with overheated pavement since they no longer had tents to protect them,” she writes. Others lost shoes and personal belongings during the sweeps.

Rather than use the year since the ruling to build housing or expand services, the City of Grants Pass continued down a punitive path. In January 2025, the new mayor and city council passed a resolution to shut down the temporary site—again without offering a plan to house those displaced.

“Policies like this criminalize the poor and homeless, make homelessness worse, and remind me of the days when Grants Pass was a sundown town,” Cruz wrote.

Across the country, local governments have increasingly relied on criminalization rather than solutions. The Ninth Circuit had previously ruled in Martin v. Boise that cities could not punish people for sleeping outside if no shelter was available. But the Supreme Court’s decision in Grants Pass rolled that protection back, giving cities a green light to push unhoused residents further to the margins.

According to Cruz, these policies sever people from the very resources that could help them get back on their feet. “Evicting encampments makes it harder for people to connect with service workers. Throwing away people’s IDs makes it harder for them to apply for housing and secure essential benefits,” she explained. “Lack of basic sanitation and shower facilities impacts people’s ability to show up to school or a job interview.”

The criminalization of homelessness, she argues, is not just cruel—it’s counterproductive and expensive. “Using taxpayers’ hard-earned money to throw homeless people in jail is cruel, counterproductive, and wasteful,” she said. “We need to focus on real solutions like housing and healthcare.”

Her call for systemic reform is rooted in lived experience. Cruz spent years living unhoused in Grants Pass, sleeping under tarps and in tents. She has seen firsthand how encampment sweeps tear apart communities and how arrests only deepen the trauma. “To live as a person experiencing homelessness does not make me or my neighbors any less human,” she wrote.

Advocates warn that the Grants Pass ruling risks turning back decades of progress in housing rights litigation. Without federal protection, the burden falls on state and local governments—and grassroots movements—to ensure humane treatment for unhoused people.

Cruz urges lawmakers to invest in permanent supportive housing, public bathrooms, legal aid, and rent relief. She emphasizes that this is not just about the visibly unhoused, but the millions of Americans living on the edge.

“Whether you are someone who has spent time on the street, or are one of the millions of people one missed paycheck away from homelessness, this is about all of us,” she wrote. “When we actually ensure that everybody has the housing they need, everybody will be healthier, safer, and better off. When we solve homelessness, we all win.”

A year after Grants Pass v. Johnson, the need for action has only grown more urgent. Cruz and her fellow advocates are still demanding what should be a basic right: a place to call home.

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From our years serving as Utah’s Senate Minority Leader, and as a business executive in downtown Salt Lake City, we have seen both the compassion of our communities and the frustration of local governments with regards to homelessness.

Balancing care with order is not easy — but the Supreme Court’s decision in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson offers a vital course correction. Now, guided by faith and community values, Utah has the opportunity — and responsibility — to enact real, lasting change.

The Grants Pass decision affirms what many Utahns believe: cities must retain the ability to keep parks, sidewalks and public spaces safe and accessible. This ruling isn’t about punishing poverty — it’s about empowering cities to protect their communities while still serving the vulnerable with dignity.

Scripture teaches that “pure religion… is to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction” (James 1:27).

Utahns take that calling seriously.

But compassion without structure often leads to deeper suffering.

Encampments in public spaces may appear merciful, but they expose people to violence, drugs, exploitation and disease. At the same time, they drive families, seniors and children away from places meant for everyone.

This tension demands leadership at every level of government. Grants Pass provides clarity — but it’s only the beginning.

Here’s what Utah’s lawmakers and local leaders should do — guided by faith and grounded in practical policy:

1. Establish statewide policy frameworks.

The Legislature should pass clear, compassionate laws that set expectations for cities: if public camping is prohibited, there must also be an investment in shelter capacity, case management, and outreach. Local leaders need guardrails — and a mandate to act. Representative Tyler Clancy’s HB 196 establishes clear criteria and enforces greater accountability for all programs and services that receive taxpayer funding.

2. Fund shelter and support services.

Utah has seen some success with low-barrier shelters, transitional housing, and recovery programs. But our infrastructure is uneven. Especially in rural counties and fast-growing cities, more funding is needed to provide not just a bed, but a path forward.

3. Mandate relational accountability through “Know by Name” protocols.

One of the most overlooked tools in addressing homelessness is relationship. We must require all resource centers in Utah to implement “Know by Name” protocols — systems that ensure every individual is not treated as a number, but as a person with a name, a story, and a path forward. When people feel known, they are more likely to trust, engage, and respond to support services.

This isn’t just compassion — it’s smart policy.

Programs like “The Other Side Academy” prove this daily. Their “peer-to-peer” and lived experience model, where students lead and mentor each other through recovery and accountability, has produced outstanding results for graduates.

These aren’t abstract theories — they are real, measurable practices that restore dignity and drive outcomes. We should be elevating and replicating what works—not waiting for permission to implement the obvious.

4. Ensure transparency and accountability.

The public deserves transparency. Monthly reports on shelter use, enforcement,and outcomes will build trust and drive improvement — not just punitive punishment.

All state-funded resource centers should be required to implement the “HOPE” program, developed by SLPD Officer Nathan Meinzer, which uses positive incentives to promote pro-social behavior. The results have been transformative for both individuals and communities.

5. Mobilize faith-based and nonprofit partners.

Many of Utah’s most effective solutions come from faith communities. Churches and nonprofits can formally partner with cities to provide volunteers, donation drives, mentorship, job training and even transitional housing. This is gospel in action.

6. Encourage city councils to lead locally.

Mayors and council members should host public hearings to bring together residents, service providers, law enforcement, and people with lived experience. Every city has different needs — and a “one-size-fits-all solution” won’t work. But all cities need to act now!

7. Promote the dignity of work as a pathway out.

One of the most effective yet underused tools is work. During Operation Rio Grande, a voluntary work program allowed shelter residents to earn daily wages at a local flower nursery — known as “the dirt farm.” With transportation provided by UTA, participants found not only income, but purpose and structure. The program was shut down — not for lack of success, but because it fell outside the department’s traditional role. That was a missed opportunity.

Not everyone experiencing homelessness can work — but many can. And meaningful work builds confidence, routine and connection.

We already see this at the “Columbus Center,” led by Kristy Chambers, and at “Switchpoint” CEO Carol Hollowell, where employment is part of the healing model.

At “The Other Side Academy,” every student is assigned meaningful work as part of their recovery journey. The program’s peer-to-peer counseling model has consistently delivered exceptional outcomes for those who graduate.

Governor Cox has called for administrative collaboration rather than more legislation. Let’s follow that example. Instead of shelving good ideas, let’s test them.

Pilot programs, community partnerships, and creative solutions should be scaled — not sidelined. Work is not punishment. For many, it’s the first step home.

The Grants Pass decision gives Utah the legal clarity to act — but it’s our values that must shape how we act. We know that enforcing public camping bans is not a solution by itself. But it is a critical tool in restoring balance between compassion and accountability.

Let’s make this a turning point.

Let’s move beyond debate and toward action — faith-informed, data-driven and centered on human thriving dignity.

As former public servants, business executives and lifelong Utahns, we urge the Legislature and every city council across our state to take action.

This isn’t just about law enforcement or social services — it’s about the kind of community we aspire to be.

Guided by faith, and committed to both order and mercy, we can meet this moment.

GRANTS PASS, OR. — The City of Grants Pass, in collaboration with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), is launching a new phase of its Utility Box Art Project and is currently calling for local artists, students, and creative teams to submit designs for public art installations. The project seeks to continue its mission of turning ordinary traffic control boxes into vibrant, eye-catching works of art that enrich the community and beautify public spaces.

Now in its latest installment, the Utility Box Art Project is a creative initiative that transforms pole-mounted utility boxes throughout Grants Pass into visual landmarks. The aim is to promote a lively and engaging city atmosphere through art that is family-friendly, nature-inspired, and accessible to all ages. Designs should reflect elements of wildlife, animals, plants, and the natural environment while helping deter graffiti and promote civic pride.

The artwork selected will be printed as vinyl wraps and applied to utility boxes located throughout the city. All four sides and the top of each utility box must be covered in the submitted designs. The City of Grants Pass will provide all necessary materials for the installation process, and selected artists will receive a stipend of $350 for each completed box.

In keeping with the spirit of community collaboration, the project is supported by a number of local and state partners, including the Thursday Rotary Club, ODOT, and the Josephine County Cultural Coalition. Oversight for the selection process and overall project direction is handled by the City’s Committee on Public Art (CoPA), with final approvals from both the City Council and ODOT.

Artists interested in participating must submit a comprehensive application package that includes a color conceptual design showing the artwork layout for the utility box, a written artist statement, a resume or recommendation letter (for students), and examples of previous work. Youth entries are encouraged and may include a written paragraph about their design inspiration in place of formal application components. All artwork must be original, and entries that include offensive content, political or religious references, copyrighted images, or AI-generated art will not be considered.

All submitted art must be suitable for public display in a wide variety of community spaces. While the project encourages bold designs and colors for visibility, the content must remain appropriate and accessible to all segments of the population. Artists are also reminded that once selected, the work becomes the property of the City of Grants Pass, with a waiver of artist rights included in the signed agreement. For artists under 18, a parent or guardian signature is required.

This year’s available boxes are all pole-mounted types, each in various neighborhoods around the city. A map of box locations is available through the city for artists to determine the placement and influence of their design choices. Site preparation and installation of the artwork must be completed within 45 days of final approval. Artists may submit more than one design proposal and are encouraged to tailor their concepts to the neighborhoods where the boxes are located.

Completed application packages must be received by the City of Grants Pass no later than 5:00 p.m. on August 15, 2025. Submissions can be sent by email to Dana Pearce, Economic Development Specialist, at dpearce@grantspassoregon.gov with the subject line “Art Box Project,” or by mail to City Hall at 101 NW A Street, Grants Pass, OR 97526.

After the application deadline, CoPA will review all entries and select five finalists, who may be invited for interviews either in person or via teleconference. Final selections will be forwarded to the City Council and ODOT for final approval. All applicants will be notified of their status following the review process.

The Utility Box Art Project continues to serve as a celebration of local talent and creativity while encouraging civic engagement and public appreciation for the arts. For more information or questions, artists can contact Dana Pearce at (541) 450-6071.

Grants Pass, OR — The City of Grants Pass will begin its annual residential backflow testing program on Monday, July 7, 2025, with testing expected to continue through November. The program is designed to ensure the safety and cleanliness of the city’s drinking water by checking for potential contamination from residential irrigation systems and other cross-connections.

The City has contracted with Precision Backflow, a licensed and certified backflow testing company, to perform the inspections on behalf of the City’s Water Distribution Department. All participating residential customers will have their backflow prevention devices tested to comply with local and state water safety standards.

Residents can expect to see Precision Backflow technicians working throughout neighborhoods over the coming months. Technicians will be clearly identifiable by their safety vests labeled “Precision Backflow” and will carry a City-issued photo identification badge. In order to ensure safety and legitimacy, the City advises residents to request to see the technician’s ID badge before granting any access to private property. If the technician cannot produce proper identification, residents are not obligated to allow them onto their premises. Additionally, Precision Backflow vehicles should be parked nearby and clearly marked, further helping to verify their presence.

If a technician attempts to perform testing at a residence while the homeowner is away, a notice will be left on the front door. Residents who receive a notice are encouraged to promptly call Precision Backflow at 541-916-5253 to reschedule or confirm service.

Backflow prevention is a critical part of maintaining safe public drinking water. These devices help prevent water from outdoor irrigation, pools, or other sources from reversing flow and entering the public water supply, where it could introduce contaminants. Testing these systems annually ensures that they are working correctly and keeps the city in compliance with health and safety regulations.

For any questions, concerns, or to verify contractor information, residents may contact the City of Grants Pass Distribution Department at 541-218-7676. City officials appreciate the community’s cooperation and patience during this process and emphasize the importance of these efforts to protect public health.

This proactive maintenance effort reflects the City’s ongoing commitment to ensuring the highest standards in water quality and infrastructure safety. Residents are reminded to stay informed, request identification when necessary, and report any suspicious activity or unauthorized personnel claiming to represent the City or its contractors.

The backflow testing program is a regular part of Grants Pass’s water safety protocol, and officials expect this year’s cycle to proceed smoothly thanks to the collaboration between the City, its contractor, and the public.