Caltrans ordered to pay $2M for destroying Bay Area homeless camps
https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Caltrans-ordered-to-reimburse-homeless-camp-15423611.php
The California Department of Transportation has agreed to pay $2 million for destroying belongings during sweeps of homeless encampments from 2014 to 2019.
The class-action lawsuit, filed in 2016 on behalf of unhoused Californians, claims that belongings, including, food, clothing, and medical supplies, were destroyed during the sweeps enacted by Caltrans.
The Alameda County Superior Court approved the settlement last week. Under the ruling, Caltrans is required to set up a $1.3 million fund to compensate people for their loss of property and give $700,000 to the nonprofit organization Homeless Action Center to provide housing and benefits services for the unhoused.