ACLU Hawaiʻi releases ‘know your rights’ guide for houseless

The ACLU of Hawaiʻi Foundation (ACLU), today, announced the publication of a “know your rights” guide for individuals and families experiencing houselessness who have been impacted by City & County of Honolulu police sweeps to enforce the county’s Stored Property Ordinance and the Sidewalk Nuisance Ordinance.

“Many of the rights outlined in the guide resulted from the U.S. District Court’s order in the Martin v. City and County of Honolulu lawsuit, brought by the ACLU and the law firm of Alston Hunt Floyd and Ing, in response to city sweeps,” the organization said in a press release.

The guide details the rights most often affected during a sweep, including the right to retrieve property prior to a sweep. The guide describes what items must be stored by the city and how to reclaim property taken by the city. A printed version and several language translations are also planned. The guide also includes information about local shelters, community resources, and voting rights and requirements in Hawaiʻi.

The guide is the latest in a collection of Hawaiʻi-specific “Know Your Rights” materials that the local ACLU has created, including a “First Amendment Toolkit” and a “Youth Rights Guide.”

These and other resources are available at acluhawaii.org.