LA vs. Jones

Safe Legally Entitled Emergency Places to Sleep

Unhoused People Helping Each Other

In Unity with the Community

Jones v LA

“The Eighth Amendment prohibits the City from punishing involuntary sitting, lying, or sleeping on public sidewalks that is an unavoidable consequence of being human and homeless without shelter in the City of Los Angeles,” Judge Wardlaw, author of the majority opinion of the decision.

The Courts have found that sleeping, cooking, going to the bathroom are all “unavoidable consequences of being human and homeless” and as such are protected rights and cannot be criminalized.

Jones v LA, 2007 Settlement Text

(Ninth Circuit Court which rules Eugene)

1. The (LAPD) will issue a policy directive stating that it will not enforce Los Angeles Municipal Code (“LAMC”) section 41.18(d)between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., except as set forth in Paragraphs

2 and 3 below. The (LAPD) will keep this policy in effect and operate according to this policy until an additional 1250 units of permanent supportive housing are constructed within the City of Los Angeles, at least 50 percent of which are located in Skid Row and/or greater downtown Los Angeles. These units shall be constructed as housing for current or formerly chronically homeless persons and shall not include housing units already existing as low income housing units and/or occupied as low income housing within the past 6 months.

2. LAMC section 41.18(d) will be enforceable at all times at locations within ten (10) feet of any operational and utilizable entrance, exit, driveway or loading dock.

3. (Explains how to measure the 10 feet.)

(Jones v LA settlement still in effect in December 2012, lacking 300 housing units completed)

Eugene has 1,500 official government documented unhoused people for whom it can not provide shelter as all shelters are full.