Should Homelessness Be Criminalized?

Grants Pass is a smaller community, nestled in the beautiful backdrop of southern Oregon, that has many residents claiming there has been an explosion of homelessness, leaving their idyllic community unsafe. Grants Pass has gained national attention because of a court case between local homeless individuals and the city. At the heart of the matter is whether it is cruel and unusual punishment for the city to arrest or fine people for sleeping outside in public, even with just a pillow or blanket, when there is no safe shelter available. The case has gone all the way to the Supreme Court, with a decision coming soon, and potentially having national implications on whether cities can criminalize those with no other option but to sleep in public. Dr. Phil sent his team to Grants Pass to speak with residents and people experiencing homelessness to see firsthand what is going on. Dr. Phil will speak with residents Missy and Brock, who claim the rise in homelessness has left many residents scared due to the rampant drug use, crime, and even physical assaults on residents. The debate over whether to criminalize people experiencing homelessness sleeping in public heats up when Dr. Phil invites two experts on opposite sides of the issue: Donald Whitehead (Executive Director of the National Coalition for the Homeless) and Matt Mackowiak (Co-founder of Save Austin Now). Plus, Dr. Phil speaks with Dion, a young man who is currently experiencing homelessness, and says criminalizing the things needed to survive on the street is not the answer.