Filed Date: 2015
Case Ongoing
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The City of Chicago adopted a new policy in January 2015 after the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless (CCH), the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and the law firm of Hughes Socol Piers Resnick & Dym challenged the city's practice of confiscating and destroying personal property, including sleeping bags and medicine.
For information on how the settlement came to be, and how it is being monitored, see these two articles.
Under the 2015 policy, the City of Chicago agreed to (1) protect the right of homeless persons to retain vital possessions free from seizure and disposal, and
(2) provide intensive case management and assistance to homeless persons.
Such services are to include social supports, job training, drug and alcohol treatment, and access to long-term housing.
The City of Chicago agreed to provide a predictable notice (at least 24-hour notice) of off-street cleaning, a process which will allow homeless persons to retain vital belongings with them on the street and avoid disposal by the police, Streets & Sanitation or other city agencies. Chicago’s Department of Family and Support Services would lead the city’s contact with homeless people living on the street, informing them of the new policy and providing information about housing and services.
A year after the settlement, the CCH noted that, due to poor signage, training, and intensive case management, there were concerns that the city was not complying with its own policy. However, further litigation or issues did not appear to have been raised.
At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the CCH asked that the city suspend its sweeps altogether because of the risk of disease transmission. Additionally, they noted "that the City’s sweeps tend to 'ramp up' in the Spring and have resulted in the loss of important personal property, essential medications, personal documents, and items necessary for keeping warm and dry."
There does not appear to be further activity relating to this settlement.
Summary Authors
Susie Choi (2/26/2017)
Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 1:47 p.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: Illinois
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: 2015
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Chicago Coalition for the Homeless
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Case Details
Special Case Type(s):
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Order Duration: 2015 - None