Housing/Houselessness

Law Foundation of Silicon Valley v. City of Gilroy

January 16, 2026

In January 2026, DRA and The Law Foundation of Silicon Valley secured a landmark decision ensuring government agencies are held accountable when they improperly withhold materials essential to public accountability. The Supreme Court of California published its decision in City of Gilroy v. Superior Court, a case addressing the people’s right to access public records … Continue reading “Law Foundation of Silicon Valley v. City of Gilroy”

Students 4 Mental Health Justice v. Harvard

May 22, 2025

In May 2025, DRA and Nichols Kaster, PLLP filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts against Harvard University for its systematic discrimination against students with mental health disabilities. DRA brought this suit on behalf of Students 4 Mental Health Justice (S4MHJ), a student-led advocacy organization whose membership includes current … Continue reading “Students 4 Mental Health Justice v. Harvard”

Housing Rights Initiative v. 160+ Housing Providers

January 20, 2025

In January 2025, following a sweeping undercover investigation by housing watchdog group Housing Rights Initiative (HRI), DRA filed the largest housing discrimination case in Illinois history against 165 real estate agents, brokerage firms, and landlords alleging they illegally discriminated against low-income families who sought to use Housing Choice Vouchers (“Section 8”). The 176 complaints against … Continue reading “Housing Rights Initiative v. 160+ Housing Providers”

Prado v. City of Berkeley

September 8, 2023

On September 5, 2023, DRA initiated legal action to prevent the City of Berkeley from conducting evictions of unhoused Berkeley residents who reside on 8th and Harrison Street until there are sufficient provisions of shelter, housing, or alternative accommodations that take into consideration their disability-related needs. 

Yesue v. Sebastopol

October 25, 2022

In October 2022, DRA, ACLU Foundation of Northern California, Legal Aid of Sonoma County, and California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. filed suit against the city of Sebastopol for enacting an ordinance that prohibits vehicles “used for human habitation” from parking anywhere within city limits during the day.  This action, aimed at driving the city’s most … Continue reading “Yesue v. Sebastopol”

Navarro v. Mountain View

July 14, 2021

If you are a person who is houseless in Mountain View or one of the nearby communities and have parked or may park any vehicle that could be considered “oversized” by Mountain View, (over 6’ in height, 7’ in width, or 22’ in length) then click here to read the Class Notice describing a proposed … Continue reading “Navarro v. Mountain View”

Geary v. City of Pacifica

March 15, 2021

On March 15, 2021, on behalf of five Pacifica residents who reside in RVs, Disability Rights Advocates, the ACLU Foundation of Northern California, and the Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County filed a class action lawsuit against the city to strike down a law that bans RV parking within city limits. The lawsuit argues … Continue reading “Geary v. City of Pacifica”

Smith v. City of Oakland

August 27, 2019

Image: Fox Oakland Theater via Flickr Oakland renters who need to live in accessible units are either shut out of the City’s rent control protections entirely, or forced to live in inaccessible units. If you are in either situation, we want to hear from you: contact us at 510-529-3491 or oakland.rent@dralegal.org On August 28, 2019, … Continue reading “Smith v. City of Oakland”

Bloom v. City of San Diego

June 8, 2018

In November 2017, DRA and partners filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of San Diego residents who depend on their vehicles as their only form of shelter against the City of San Diego, challenging the constitutionality of the City’s enforcement of the Vehicle Habitation Ordinance (VHO) and the Oversized Vehicle Ordinance (OVO). The VHO … Continue reading “Bloom v. City of San Diego”