Berkeley faces class action lawsuit over unhoused encampment sweeps

A federal judge for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California has approved class certification in a lawsuit against the City of Berkeley. The suit, filed by Disability Rights Advocates and the East Bay Community Law Center, alleges that the city discriminates against unhoused people with disabilities through its encampment sweep practices.

The certified class includes unhoused individuals with disabilities who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing the city’s sweep policies. A subclass was also established for those living in vehicles who are unable to comply with the city’s requirement to move vehicles every 72 hours due to their disabilities.

In the ruling, the court noted evidence suggesting the city’s enforcement framework favors the disposal of property, leading to the destruction of essential items such as medical equipment, identification documents, and survival gear.