Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 33, Number 5, 1 May 2016 — Homeless rights detailed [ARTICLE]

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Homeless rights detailed

Honolulu's "sweeps" of homeless people's belongings from puhlie sidewalks and parks has led the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai'i Foundation to publish an online guide of affected individuals' rights. The city has been enforcing its Stored Property Ordinance and Sidewalk Nuisance Ordinance to encourage homeless people to find help. The ACLU filed a federal lawsuit against the city, claiming property was illegally destroyed during the sweeps, including identification, medication and other important items. A resulting court order requires the city to hold on to seized property, including tents, tarps, shelves and crates.

Now the ACLU is informing people of their rights in event of a sweep, as well as how to get their property back and what they ean do if they feel their rights have been violated. For more information, visit http://tinyurl.com/acluhawaiihomeless.