Grants Pass

Cities across California have passed measures banning or restricting encampments following the U.S. Supreme Court giving the go-ahead in a ruling out of Grants Pass, Oregon. Now some attorneys who represent homeless campers are champing at the bit to put these new ordinances before a jury

Homeless people in Grants Pass now have more options for legally camping in the city.

Northwest researchers find Medford, Grants Pass and Bend had the most wildfire smoke from 2019-2023.

Homeless people in Grants Pass have been granted another temporary reprieve from prosecution.

Every January, across the country, local social service groups set out to count the number of homeless people in their communities. Data from what’s called the Point in Time Count is sent to the federal government and used to decide how funding is distributed. JPR reporter Jane Vaughan recently followed one team in Grants Pass.

Homeless people in Grants Pass can’t be cited, arrested or prosecuted for camping during the next two weeks. A Josephine County judge issued a temporary restraining order on Monday in a lawsuit against the city over its treatment of homeless people.

The non-profit group Disability Rights Oregon and five disabled homeless residents have sued the city of Grants Pass claiming new camping restrictions violate state laws.

On Friday morning, homeless residents dragged tarps and carried piles on their backs, heaping their belongings just outside the fence. They were given until 9 a.m. to get their possessions off the city-owned site.

In a sometimes raucous, nearly five-hour-long meeting on Tuesday, the recently-sworn in councilors clawed back a key grant, sharply reduced official camping opportunities for homeless people and pulled the plug on several advisory committees.

In June, the nation’s highest court ruled in favor of the City of Grants Pass, deciding that cities could impose criminal penalties without running afoul of constitutional provisions against cruel and unusual punishment.

This marks the first time the district has removed challenged books from its libraries.

PACE stands for Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly and is part of a national program. It provides medical services, socialization activities, home care and other resources to low-income adults aged 55 and over in Southern Oregon.