S.F. settles longstanding homeless lawsuit for 2.8M

San Francisco has settled a lawsuit for $2. 8 million concerning its treatment of homeless individuals' belongings, following allegations of improper disposal practices. The Coalition on Homelessness filed the suit, asserting that the city failed to follow its bag-and-tag policy, which requires the collection and storage of personal items. The settlement will provide $11,000 to two plaintiffs, while the remaining funds will be allocated to the ACLU attorneys. New training for Public Works employees and enhanced documentation practices will be implemented as part of the agreement.

Jennifer Friedenbach, the Coalition's Executive Director, highlighted the settlement’s importance for compliance with city policies. City Attorney Jen Kwart noted the need for balancing the rights of the unhoused with public order. Although the existing bag-and-tag policy remains legal, any future changes must include specific notification protocols before sweeps occur. This settlement follows a trend of increased encampment sweeps in San Francisco, reducing the number of visible tents to the lowest count since 2019.