San Francisco, CA – The City and County of San Francisco has reached a settlement of $2.82 million with the Coalition on Homelessness (COH) and individual plaintiffs, concluding a contentious lawsuit filed in September 2022. The agreement, finalized in July 2025, addresses allegations that the city violated the constitutional rights of unhoused individuals through encampment sweeps and the destruction of personal property. The settlement primarily covers attorney fees for the plaintiffs.
The Coalition on Homelessness, established in 1987, operates as a non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for the rights of unhoused individuals and developing long-term solutions to homelessness in San Francisco. The group is known for publishing the Street Sheet newspaper and for its role in founding the Community Housing Partnership, which provides supportive housing.
The lawsuit contended that San Francisco's practices, including the clearing of encampments without offering adequate shelter and the seizure and destruction of belongings, violated state and federal laws. A preliminary injunction had previously been granted, restricting the city's ability to conduct sweeps without offering shelter, a point of contention for those who view such actions as "blocking progress" in managing public spaces.
Under the terms of the settlement, in addition to the $2.82 million for attorney fees, the city has agreed to provide the Coalition on Homelessness with regular access to documents related to encampment clearing processes. Jennifer Friedenbach, Executive Director of the Coalition on Homelessness, stated that the settlement includes "important mechanisms to ensure that the city complies with its policy for handling unhoused people’s property."
Accusations of the Coalition on Homelessness being "grifters" or "lobbyists" and "not a nonprofit" have been made by critics on social media, including a recent tweet that labeled the organization as "pro-homelessness grifters using taxpayer $ to block progress & enact pro-homeless laws." The tweet also specifically targeted Jennifer Friedenbach with the hashtag "#fraudenbachisevil." However, the organization's long-standing non-profit status and its engagement in legal advocacy, as evidenced by this settlement, underscore its role as a rights-based advocacy group.
The resolution of this lawsuit highlights the ongoing legal and policy debates surrounding homelessness in San Francisco, where advocacy groups continue to challenge city enforcement practices. The settlement aims to ensure greater accountability and adherence to established protocols regarding the treatment of the unhoused population.