The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a statement of interest arguing that it is unconstitutional for cities to ban the homeless from sleeping outside if there are insufficient spaces in shelters because this, in effect, criminalizes homelessness.

Ongoing legal action could change the way law enforcement approaches the homeless. 

The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a statement of interest which argues that it is unconstitutional to criminalize people sleeping outside if the area lacks the number of beds to accommodate them indoors.

And those who enact and enforce laws prohibiting sleeping in public are, in effect, making homelessness itself illegal f