Homeless

Dickson Settles Lawsuit With House of Hope Homeless Nonprofit

A lawsuit the nonprofit House of Hope filed against the City of Dickson nearly three years ago was recently settled after a Dickson City Council vote this month. The settlement amount was $20,000, which was to pay for The House of Hope’s legal fees, said Dickson city attorney Jerry Smith. The House of Hope was seeking $300,000 based on the organization’s leadership belief that the city prevented the nonprofit from being able to “fulfill its religious mission to minister to the needs of those whom it serves” by voting against a homeless shelter in the Downtown Dickson area. In the lawsuit, the organization’s leadership said the plan was to provide faith-based counseling, a prayer room, food, clothing, shelter and transportation to “homeless and needy individuals.”


Federal Judge Denies Injunction, Class-Action Status on Sweeps Suit

A federal judge ruled Oct. 4 that sweeps of homeless people and their belongings may continue as a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the city of Seattle’s rules regarding the practice moves through the court. Judge Ricardo Martinez denied motions filed by attorneys representing the plaintiffs — four homeless individuals impacted by sweeps, the Real Change Homeless Empowerment …


Houston’s Panhandling, Camping Ordinances Violate Rights, Lawsuit Says

The ACLU of Texas announced Monday that it has filed a lawsuit on behalf of three homeless Houston residents asking a federal judge to halt the city’s new ordinances limiting panhandling and camping in public. City Council passed the two ordinances last month. The encampment rule forbids tents or other structures for living in public areas and requires that all of a person’s belongings fit into a three-foot cube; it took effect Friday. …


Homeless Sweep Lawsuit Gets Class Action Designation

A federal judge has certified the lawsuit against the City of Denver over homeless camp sweeps as class action. In March of last year, city officials were fed up with the personal items filling the street on the corners of Park Avenue West and Lawrence Street, outside the Denver Rescue Mission. City workers wound up clearing out the items after multiple warnings.



Homeless Angels’ Attorney: Lawsuit Should Be Dismissed

An attorney for Homeless Angels said she plans to file a motion asking a judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed against the group by the owner of a south Lansing hotel where the nonprofit once housed Lansing-area homeless families and individuals. Attorney Denise LaFave Smith, who represents the nonprofit, said it has limited financial resources and no intention of …


Lawsuit Challenges Denver’s Sweeps of the Homeless

When Jerry Burton’s sleeping bag and tent were removed by city workers from his campsite near a rapidly developing area close to downtown Denver, he was able to start over again with backup gear he keeps hidden for emergencies — whether his or someone else’s. Now he’s one of nine homeless people suing in federal court to try to stop the city’s sweeps of homeless encampments and, as he …


Homeless Sweeps: Takeaways From Second Hearing in Class Action Lawsuit

Thursday morning’s 10 a.m. hearing at the Alfred A. Arraj courthouse was significantly less crowded than last week’s for a class action lawsuit filed against Denver that alleges the city is violating the U.S. Constitution when it conducts regular sweeps of the homeless. Much of the October 20 hearing was spent affirming …


Lawsuit Settlement Could Mean Housing for Yakima’s Homeless

Under a settlement agreement reached this week, Yakima Neighborhood Health Services will drop its federal lawsuit against the city of Yakima and instead submit a new application for using Roy’s Market as an apartment building to house local homeless people. The revised application, which Neighborhood Health must submit within 90 days, will be for an apartment facility in which up to 40 homeless …


Akron Must Give Notice Before Removing Homeless People’s Belongings, Settlement Says

A federal judge has approved a settlement agreement requiring the city of Akron to give 48 hours’ notice before removing homeless people’s tents and other belongings from public or private property. The city also must store any items taken for 30 days to enable homeless people to reclaim their items. Federal Judge Donald C. Nugent approved the agreement, which will be overseen by …