A landmark class action suit filed in federal court August 27, 2008, charges that San Francisco’s homeless shelter program “blatantly discriminates” against disabled homeless people. The majority of all homeless people suffer from mental and physical disabilities, and the suit is the first in the country to broadly challenge the homeless shelter program of a city as a violation of civil rights statutes that protect people with disabilities.

This suit, seeking relief on behalf of disabled homeless persons in San Francisco, was filed by Disability Rights Advocates (DRA) and Zelle Hofmann. Dan Mason, a senior partner at Zelle Hofmann, commented on this issue in a press release sent on behalf of DRA. Click here to read the release, titled “Discrimination Lawsuit Against San Francisco for Homeless Shelter Program that Excludes Disabled People,” in its entirety.