A federal judge is requiring San Francisco to better train its employees who help clear homeless encampments. The judge ruled last week that the city needs to create a new “bag and tag” policy, training staff on how to properly handle and clear homeless campers’ belongings. The case was filed by homeless advocates in 2022 who accused the city of violating homeless residents’ constitutional rights by seizing and destroying their belongings during sweeps. Under city policy, certain items like luggage and medication must be taken to a city storage facility for 90 days and officers must leave a note at the camp site informing people where those items can be found. Belongings that are soiled or abandoned can be thrown out. The city has been instructed to meet with the plaintiffs to create a proposal regarding new worker training on the “bag and tag” policy.
San Francisco Ordered By Judge to Properly Handle Homeless Persons’ Property
