As the Supreme Court takes up a case involving homelessness, we spoke to two men who spent years sleeping outside, something that would cost them a fine in some cities across the nation, at least for now.

The word 'ordinary' may come to mind if you bumped into Steven Wharris and Victor Maffetone on the street. But they have a history that is far from ordinary.  

“I was out on the streets for 11 years,” Wharris said. “Living in the woods.”  

Maffetone says he became homeless along with other members of his family.  

“My life was 20 years out of 37 being homeless,” he said.  

The pair has spent more than three decades combined living without a place to call home.  

“You’re just in a rut,” Wharris said. “Once you get in that rut it’s a tough butter to get out of.”  

Homeless people are not only exposed to the outdoor elements daily but the various misconceptions many people have.  

“Everybody that is homeless is not gangster. Everyone that is homeless is not hippie,” Maffetone said. “These people are all diverse.”  

It's a diverse population that appears to be growing in many places across the country, particularly in the west where shelter space is limited, and some municipalities are fining people for sleeping outside to manage encampments. It’s a policy that is being challenged at our nation’s highest court.  

“Restricting these people isn’t going to make it better. It’s going to make it worse,” claimed Maffetone. “They’re not going to want to come to town, they’re going to be more careless if they do.”  

During more than two hours of oral arguments Monday, liberal-leaning justices casted doubt on whether municipalities should be able punish homeless people for sleeping outside when shelter is available. Conservatives on the panel are skeptical as to whether the status of homelessness deserves constitutional protection.

Wharris got emotional when asked about the policy and recalls being watched by law enforcement.  

“It was like you’re being preyed on, even if you weren’t doing anything,” Wharris recalled. “Just because you’re homeless doesn’t make you a bad guy.”  

The case has captured the attention of people impacted by homelessness along with advocates in the space who say criminalizing homelessness is not the answer. Instead, a housing first approach.  

“We really need to make those services accessible,” said RISE Housing and Support Services Executive Director Sybil Newell. “We can’t make a lot of preconditions on the people getting a roof over their head.”  

Which is what RISE strides to do. It's an approach Wharris and Maffetone say finally provided them with enough stability to get on a path of success and off the streets.  

“When I was out there in the woods, even staying at Code Blue, here you’ve got more structure,” Wharris said.