Richmond addresses unsanctioned encampments through coordinated outreach and cleanup operations led by the Department of Public Works alongside Homeward Continuum of Care, balancing public health duties with notice protections for residents.
When encampments accumulate on public property, Richmond's Department of Public Works coordinates with Homeward and the Richmond Continuum of Care to provide outreach, shelter referrals, and storage of personal property before any cleanup. Standard practice involves posted notice prior to removal, with timelines that account for federal Fourth Amendment property protections established in cases like Lavan v. City of Los Angeles. The Greater Richmond Continuum of Care leads point-in-time counts and coordinated entry, channeling unhoused residents toward shelter, rapid rehousing, and permanent supportive housing options.
Improper destruction of personal property during encampment cleanups, or insufficient pre-removal notice, may expose the City to civil rights claims and federal court challenges.
Richmond, VA
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See how Richmond's encampment sanitation rules stack up against other locations.
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