line drawing of person sitting and laying on street

Rights of Unhoused People

California faces a severe housing crisis, yet many jurisdictions criminalize unhoused people rather than addressing the root causes of homelessness. The ACLU of Northern California staunchly defends unhoused people’s right to exist in public spaces, free from harassment, citation, banishment, and other forms of discrimination.

person holding sign saying "seeking human kindness"

What to do if You're Stopped, Searched, or Swept While Unhoused
If you are unhoused you have rights. This resource provides recommendations for how to navigate different scenarios when you encounter police.
 Know Your Rights
Complaint from Coalition on Homelessness v. City and County of San Francisco

Featured Case: Coalition on Homelessness v. City and County of San Francisco
For years, San Francisco has claimed that it is taking steps to address the city’s homelessness crisis. But in fact, the city is forcing unhoused people out of sight—destroying their survival belongings and citing and arresting them for sleeping in public when they have no shelter to go to. San Francisco has more laws penalizing homelessness than any other city in California. These regressive mass incarceration era policies only perpetuate San Francisco’s homelessness crisis and scapegoat unhoused people for the City’s egregious failure to support affordable housing for San Francisco residents.
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