Lawsuit: Protecting People with Disabilities who are Homeless
Everyone deserves the opportunity to live with dignity and security, and we all need a roof over our heads to have opportunities to thrive. But rising costs of rent, groceries, and bills have put a strain on Oregonians. Our social safety nets are broken, and Oregon’s most vulnerable citizens are paying the price — sometimes with their lives.
Instead of seeking solutions, the City of Grants Pass is cruelly and illegally threatening the lives of homeless residents with disabilities by recent closing of one of its only two sanctioned camps and limiting camping to only overnight. The remaining camp is an overcrowded gravel lot unprotected from harsh winter weather, and lacks basic necessities including drinking water. If people are not able to comply, they could face citations, $75 fines, and 30-day exclusions from the camp.
Without adequate and accessible shelter space available, forcing a person using a wheelchair or someone with a chronic illness to pack and move their belongings daily is not just impossible, it is illegal and inhumane.
This lawsuit against the City of Grants Pass seeks an immediate temporary restraining order to stop the city’s actions. Co-counsel in this case are attorneys from the Oregon Law Center.
Case Documents
Disability Rights Oregon et al. v. City of Grants Pass, No. 25CV05989
August 15: Order to Dismiss
August 8, 2025: Settlement Agreement
May 29, 2025: Order to Modify Preliminary Injunction
May 23, 2025: Motion to Modify Preliminary Injunction
March 28, 2025: Order to Grant Preliminary Injunction
March 4, 2025: Order to Extend Temporary Restraining Order & Set Hearing Date
February 27, 2025: Amended Complaint
February 27, 2025: Motion for Preliminary Injunction
February 27, 2025: Motion to Extend Temporary Restraining Order
February 14, 2025: Order to Extend Temporary Retraining Order
February 3, 2025: Motion for Temporary Restraining Order
January 30, 2025: Complaint
Press Release
Media Coverage
August 21, 2025: In Our View: Pushing homeless people away solves nothing
August 19, 2025: Oregon city at heart of Supreme Court homelessness ruling to ensure camping space under settlement
August 15, 2025: Grants Pass to provide 150 camping spaces, $60k in services after disability rights suit
August 14, 2025: Disability rights lawsuit leads to homeless camping settlement in Grants Pass
August 9, 2025: Grants Pass City Council votes to settle homeless lawsuit
August 6, 2025: Settlement nearing for City of Grants Pass vs Disability Rights Oregon
May 30, 2025: More Grants Pass parks could soon be off-limits for homeless camping
May 29, 2025: Preliminary injunction updated in Grants Pass homelesness suit
May 13, 2025: Clearing encampments looks good politically. But criminalizing homelessness is bad policy
May 9, 2025: Escalating Anti-Homeless Policies Fall Hardest on Disabled People in the US
May 6, 2025: GP City Council to Consider New Ordinance to Restrict Resting in Public Spaces
April 8, 2025: Grants Pass City Council adding new sites for homeless camps
April 7, 2025: GP City Council to Hold Special Workshop in Response to Recent Court Injunction
April 2, 2025: Grants Pass City Council doesn’t address homeless injunction during meeting
April 1, 2025: To escape an injunction limiting its camping ban, Grants Pass must add space and accessibility to its campsites for unsheltered people
March 28, 2025: Oregon city at heart of high court homelessness ruling blocked from enforcing camping ban
March 28, 2025: Judge bars Grants Pass from enforcing anti-homeless ordinances while lawsuit continues
March 28, 2025: Judge orders Grants Pass to provide more accessible sites for homeless campers
March 28, 2025: Homeless campers in Grants Pass can't be prosecuted until the city meets two conditions
March 26, 2025: Grants Pass must wait for judge's decision in homelessness lawsuit
March 25, 2025: Josephine County judge places advisory on Disability Rights Oregon v. Grants Pass
March 20, 2025: Preliminary Injunction versus Grants Pass could expand camping sites
March 4, 2025: Temporary restraining order in Grants Pass homeless lawsuit extended again
March 3, 2025: Motions filed to extend restraining order against city of Grants Pass
March 2, 2025: 2 Grants Pass homeless camping sites not enough
February 20, 2025: Council approves new homeless resting sites; extending time limit
February 19, 2025: Temporary restraining order allowing public camping extended in Grants Pass
February 10, 2025: Grants Pass City Council considering three new homeless resting sites
February 10, 2025: Restricting sleeping in public won’t end homelessness
February 7, 2025: Former Mayor Bristol’s Decision Stands as a Logical Contrast to New City Council’s Rushed Policies
February 3, 2025: Judge bars Grants Pass from taking enforcement action against homeless campers for 2 weeks
February 3, 2025: Oregon judge issues 14-day temporary order halting Grants Pass homeless ordinance
February 3, 2025: Oregon judge pauses camping ban enforcement in city at heart of Supreme Court homelessness ruling
February 3, 2025: Judge bars Grants Pass from taking any enforcement action against homeless campers for 2 weeks
January 31, 2025: Oregon cities want more money for roads and sewers, more leeway to remove homeless camps
January 30, 2025: Fresh lawsuit hits Oregon city at the heart of Supreme Court ruling on homeless encampments
January 30, 2025: A Grants Pass case before the Supreme Court will decide if punishing homeless residents is cruel and unusual
January 30, 2025: Disabled homeless residents sue Grants Pass over camping restrictions
January 30, 2025: Grants Pass homeless policies face a new court challenge
January 30, 2025: Disability rights group files lawsuit against Grants Pass over camping closures
January 30, 2025: A new lawsuit alleges Grants Pass’ camping ban discriminates against people with disabilities
