A county judge issued a mixed ruling last month on whether the City of Eugene’s policy of sweeping homeless camps complies with state law.
The judge ruled that 72-hour notices are required before sweeps but allowed two key exceptions that will allow sweeps to continue without notice in most cases.
Despite the decision, the case’s lead plaintiff urged the city to reconsider its approach, saying the sweeps are a barrier to escaping homelessness.
The legal case
The case centered on different interpretations of Oregon House Bill 2482, a 1995 law that prohibited local law enforcement from clearing homeless camps on public property without posting a 24-hour notice. That notice requirement was increased to 72 hours in 2021. But the law also provided a list of exceptions that the City of Eugene argued justified its typical practice of providing only a two-hour warning…