The Court ruled unhoused people have #privacy rights in their homes protected by Article 1, section 7 of Washington’s #Constitution. The Court explained that “denying Ream and Kitcheon any protected privacy in their homes would be yet one more permission slip to consider them not fully human.”
The Court found the rules underlying the City’s #sweeps policy were #unconstitutional because they covered people and property who were not true obstructions. Absent actual hazards, removal requires notice, offer of alternative locations or shelter, and an opportunity to determine whether personal property was taken and how to get it back.
the #Court also held the City of Seattle’s sweeps policy constituted cruel punishment under Article 1, section 14 of #Washington’s Constitution in some circumstances because the sweeps subject the #unhoused to #criminal and #civil penalties for living on public land when there is no alternative to do so.