San Diego has agreed to stop enforcing laws that penalized homeless individuals living in their vehicles, following a lawsuit that challenged the city’s Vehicle Habitation and Oversized Vehicle Ordinances. The settlement will forgive outstanding tickets, expand the Safe Parking Program, and provide $15,000 in damages to each plaintiff.
The lawsuit, filed by Disability Rights Advocates, argued that the ordinances unfairly targeted vulnerable populations, particularly those with disabilities.
The Vehicle Habitation Ordinance, passed in 2019, prohibited people from using their vehicles as homes, while the Oversized Vehicle Ordinance restricted parking for large vehicles overnight.
Advocates claimed these laws criminalized homelessness instead of addressing underlying issues like affordable housing.
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As part of the settlement, the city will improve its Safe Parking Program by adding more spaces and upgrading facilities with amenities such as bathrooms and electricity.
The program provides a designated area where people living in vehicles can park overnight without facing fines or harassment. Law enforcement will also receive training to ensure respectful interactions with unhoused individuals, particularly those with disabilities.
The settlement, which includes court oversight for three years, is seen as a victory for advocates and a shift toward a more compassionate approach to homelessness in San Diego. “This settlement is a step toward more humane treatment of our homeless neighbors,” one advocate said.
San Diego hopes that by focusing on services rather than enforcement, they can create long-term solutions to the homelessness crisis while ensuring the rights and dignity of individuals living in vehicles are protected.
[Lauren Taylor]
IN A MAJOR LEGAL SETTLEMENT, SAN DIEGO WILL NO LONGER ENFORCE LAWS TARGETING HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN THEIR VEHICLES. THE AGREEMENT STEMS FROM A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT THAT CLAIMED THESE LAWS VIOLATED THE RIGHTS OF THOSE WITHOUT PERMANENT HOUSING. THE CITY WILL NOW FOCUS ON EXPANDING SERVICES INSTEAD OF PUNISHMENT.
SAN DIEGO’S VEHICLE HABITATION AND OVERSIZED VEHICLE ORDINANCE HAD BEEN IN PLACE TO RESTRICT PEOPLE FROM LIVING IN CARS ON PUBLIC STREETS. THESE LAWS DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS, FORCING THEM TO RELOCATE CONSTANTLY OR FACE HEFTY FINES. ENACTED IN 2019, THE HABITATION ORDINANCE PROHIBITED PEOPLE FROM USING THEIR VEHICLES AS DWELLINGS, WHILE THE OVERSIZED VEHICLE ORDINANCE RESTRICTED PARKING OVERNIGHT OR FOR LONG DURATIONS.
UNDER THE NEW SETTLEMENT, THE CITY WILL STOP ENFORCING THESE ORDINANCES AND FORGIVE TICKETS PREVIOUSLY ISSUED TO PEOPLE LIVING IN THEIR CARS. ADDITIONALLY, LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL UNDERGO TRAINING TO BETTER HANDLE INTERACTIONS WITH THIS VULNERABLE POPULATION, ESPECIALLY FOCUSING ON DISABILITY AWARENESS.
AS PART OF THE AGREEMENT, SAN DIEGO WILL ALSO EXPAND ITS SAFE PARKING PROGRAM, DESIGNATING SPECIFIC LOTS WHERE PEOPLE CAN SAFELY PARK AND SLEEP OVERNIGHT. THE CITY WILL OFFER BASIC AMENITIES LIKE BATHROOMS AND SHOWERS. OFFICIALS ALSO DETAILED PLANS TO ENHANCE THESE SPACES WITH ELECTRICITY AND ACCESS TO SOCIAL SERVICES… IN AN EFFORT TO HELP PEOPLE TRANSITION TO PERMANENT HOUSING.
THE 9 PLAINTIFFS WILL EACH RECEIVE 15-THOUSAND DOLLARS, AND THE CITY WILL BE MONITORED BY THE COURT FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE.
WITH SAN DIEGO’S DECISION, THE FOCUS WILL NOW SHIFT TO PROVIDING RESOURCES RATHER THAN PENALIZING THOSE LIVING IN THEIR VEHICLES. THE CITY HOPES THAT THESE CHANGES WILL LEAD TO BETTER LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS FOR HOMELESSNESS.
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS… I’M LAUREN TAYLOR.
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