Case: Chicago "Street Sweeps" Out-of-Court Settlement

NA | No Court

Filed Date: 2015

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

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 (…

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)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

City Policy and Procedures Governing Off-Street Cleaning

[Chicago Street Sweeps out-of-court settlement]

Jan. 17, 2015

Jan. 17, 2015

Settlement Agreement

Resources

Docket

Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 1:47 p.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Illinois

Case Type(s):

Policing

Key Dates

Filing Date: 2015

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Chicago Coalition for the Homeless

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

City of Chicago, City

Case Details

Special Case Type(s):

Out-of-court

Available Documents:

Non-settlement Outcome

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Private Settlement Agreement

Order Duration: 2015 - None