The United States Supreme Court recently ruled on Grants Pass v. Johnson, a decision that gave cities and local governments the right to criminalize homelessness.
The ruling gives towns the freedom to ban residents from sleeping or resting, even on public property. It changed little in New Hanover County, which already instituted such a ban, but gave local governments out West the freedom to do the same.
In light of the decision, WHQR is running a series of profiles next week on the unhoused. On this episode of the Newsroom, we’ll take a look behind the scenes of that reporting. Plus, we'll hear from Pastor Jamie Thompson — who works with the homeless every day, and says that while it's a sin for our community to allow poverty in the midst of widespread affluence, the poor shouldn't be treated as sinners — and the New Hanover County Schools district's response to homeless students, one of the most vulnerable group of people in our community.
Guests:
- Freelance Photographer Madeline Gray
- Pastor Jamie Thompson, The Anchor United Methodist Church
- Lisa Brenner, McKinney-Vento Liason for New Hanover County Schools
Music:
- "Reflections Eternal" — Nujabes
- "True Nature" — Rodrigo y Gabriela
- "Finding Myself Leads Me to You" — Rodrigo y Gabriela
- "The Giving Tree" — If These Trees Could Talk
