Several Western cities filed an amicus brief on Sept. 25 asking the court to overturn previous rulings by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, whose jurisdiction includes district courts in Nevada, that the cities argue prevent them from ousting homeless camps.
Dozens of cities in the western U.S. asked the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in on a decision by the Ninth Circuit that makes it all but impossible to enforce ordinances against homeless camps.
Most members of City Council contradicted their votes after a flurry of amendments and hours of debate, supporting the ban at one point and amending it at another.
As home prices and rent continue to rise, wages stay stagnant and affordable housing opportunities shrink, cities, towns and rural municipalities across the country struggle to respond to the rising number of people living on the streets.
With urban camping at a crisis level, members of the Missoula City Council this week pressed municipal court officials on accusations that they haven't been holding campers cited for a violation accountable for their actions.
City officials on Monday night again addressed the growing number of people living in urban camps, saying recent rulings by the Ninth Circuit Court have all but tied their hands.