Homeless Sue San Diego Officials Over Encampment Sweeps

A class action lawsuit has been filed against San Diego officials, alleging that the rights of homeless individuals were violated when their encampments were cleared and their belongings discarded. This lawsuit could potentially reach the U.S. Supreme Court for a decision.

The lawsuit argues that the sweeps violate the due process and equal protection rights of homeless individuals. It contends that the sweeps were conducted with insufficient notice, leading to the loss of essential and sentimental items. Among these items were a woman’s walker, and the cremated ashes of her son and husband. Another woman claimed that her birth certificates, photographs, jewelry, and her daughter’s first tooth were trashed.

Michael McConnell, a homeless advocate, voiced his support for the lawsuit, condemning the actions of the officials. “They just keep wanting to keep kicking people while they’re down… It is crushing,” McConnell told KFMB-TV. He noted that the sweeps often leave homeless individuals without vital possessions, including wheelchairs, walkers, bicycles, IDs, and medications.

The lawsuit further alleges that some police officers performing the sweeps stole valuable items from the homeless. “Defendants’ actions are making the homelessness crisis worse,” the lawsuit states, criticizing the criminalization of homelessness as a misguided and ineffective approach.

According to the lawsuit, homeless individuals are instructed to remove their property without being provided with any alternative options for storage or shelter. McConnell emphasized the lack of available shelters and affordable housing in the region, saying, “There certainly isn’t enough affordable housing for people.”

The lawsuit demands the return of discarded possessions and seeks unspecified compensation. The officials named in the lawsuit have not provided any comments.

The case highlights the ongoing struggle to address homelessness in San Diego and may set a precedent as a similar case is scheduled to be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court later this year. McConnell concluded, “Unfortunately, it just does absolutely nothing to help solve this issue, and it just puts people in more dire straits trying to get out of it.”