Supreme Court Tackles Homelessness for First Time in Decades

America’s homeless crisis is commonly viewed as a problem for major urban areas, but a rural Oregon community may wind up setting the legal standard cities and towns might use to address it.

Taking on the issue of homelessness for the first time in four decades, the US Supreme Court will hear argument on Monday in Grants Pass v. Johnson. The riverside city of 40,000 is known more for natural scenery and outdoor activities than for punishing people for sleeping outside.

The question for the court is whether ordinances fining people for sleeping in public places using blankets or ...