End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin is expressing concern about the impact of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that cities can ban people from sleeping and camping in public places. The court overturned lower court rulings that deemed it cruel and unusual under the Eighth Amendment to punish people for sleeping outside if they had nowhere else to go. Housing Initiatives coordinator with End Abuse Wisconsin Holland Dvorak says domestic violence is the leading cause of homelessness for women and children. Dvorak says she is concerned about the impact the ruling could have on survivors of domestic violence in Wisconsin. Dvorak points out that communities don’t have to criminalize homelessness and can instead choose to provide resources. End Abuse says federal data show homelessness in the country has reached its highest levels since the government began reporting data in 2007.
