Sacramento settles lawsuit over clearing homeless camps in extreme heat
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Sacramento settled a 3-year lawsuit over homeless encampment sweeps in heat.
- The case ends without city policy changes; union retains right to refile suit.
- City cites updated homeless response and broader weather protection measures.
The city of Sacramento has reached an agreement with homeless advocates three years after they sued to stop city officials from clearing encampments during extreme heat.
The agreement, finalized on Friday, ends the lawsuit without requiring the city to change its policies or pay damages. Instead, the case was dismissed without prejudice, meaning the Sacramento Homeless Union — which filed the lawsuit — can refile in the future.
The union hailed the outcome as a “landmark victory in the ongoing fight for justice and dignity” for Sacramento’s homeless community. Over the past three years, it secured several legal victories to limit the city’s ability to move people during heat waves.
“This case was never just about the law — it was always about people,” said Crystal Sanchez, president of the Sacramento Homeless Union, in a written statement on Wednesday. “It was about the daily struggle for life and dignity, and the power of a community that refused to give up.”
The lawsuit, filed in June 2022, demanded the city and county to declare a heat emergency whenever the temperature exceeded 90 degrees. On those days, the two government entities would be barred from clearing encampments and required to open a certain number of cooling centers.
In response, U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley issued a preliminary injunction two months later that barred Sacramento police and city officials from clearing tent encampments on public property. He extended the order repeatedly in the next two summers through August 2023, according to previous Bee reporting.
In one instance, Sacramento violated the federal order.
The city also appealed the order. In 2024, the court encouraged the parties to pursue mediation dismissed the challenge, noting that the injunction had already expired.
The Sacramento Homeless Union settled with the county that same year, but remained in a legal battle with the city until Friday.
City spokesperson Jennifer Singer said on Tuesday the city has “enhanced its policies and procedures for its homeless response” since the lawsuit was filed. That includes broadening weather criteria for activating respite centers.
“Moving forward, the city remains committed to providing support to its most vulnerable residents while also enforcing its laws and ordinances,” said Singer in a written statement. “This commitment is underscored by the city’s willingness to explore new and innovative ways to address the homelessness crisis with a variety of community partners.”
The settlement comes as the city faces growing pressure to increase shelter space and clear encampments from public property including City Hall. There are an estimated 6,615 homeless people living in Sacramento, according to the 2024 Point in Time count.
