Body language from the U.S. Supreme Court suggests cities could soon criminalize the homeless as a way to address the growing problem of outdoor encampments. No one wants to be homeless, and everyone agrees something must be done — but inhumane approaches such as these won’t solve America’s housing crisis.

Viewing homeless people as criminals for having nowhere to go reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of what we need to do to address a system that’s failed our country’s most needy constituency.

A prior ruling by the 9th Circuit effectively burdens municipalities to provide enough shelter beds to accommodate the region’s entire homeless community. Only when the number of homeless exceeds bed availability, the ruling found, can law enforcement pursue action against them for sleeping in public.

That’s a heavy responsibility for cities to shoulder. The 9th Circuit case is being challenged and based on the tenor of last week’s oral arguments by the Supreme Court majority, it may be overturned.

Leaders of every political persuasion are grappling with how to handle homeless encampments in their communities. Over 650,000 people experienced homelessness last year, up 12 percent........

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