Rochester housing advocates rally against Supreme Court decision on outdoor sleeping bans

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Housing advocates rallied in Rochester on Saturday afternoon to mark one year since a U.S. Supreme Court decision over bans on sleeping outdoors.

Last June, the Supreme Court cleared the way for cities to enforce bans on homeless people sleeping outside in public places. The judges overturned a ruling from a California appeals court that said such laws should be considered cruel and unusual punishment when shelter space is lacking.

People at the rally in Rochester held signs calling for an end to encampment sweeps. Advocates from the group Grants Pass Resistance said the demonstration aims to call attention to the impact of the ruling.

“It says that municipalities and governments can fine and criminalize people for sleeping in public, even when there’s no shelter space or anything else available for places for them to go,” said Alexa Kaminski of Rochester Grants Pass Resistance. “We think that doesn’t make sense. It’s harmful here in Rochester. It’s harmful everywhere. So we’re here calling attention to it and calling for the city to make changes.”

Rochester’s homeless population has increased by 345 people over the last six years, marking a nearly 34% rise, according to a report that the city council president released. The report also includes statistics on homeless students in the city, with 2024 data showing at least 2,460 students identified as homeless within city limits.