Homeless shelter's liability for acts of clients

[eagerbeliever]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? California

Does a homeless shelter have liability for the acts of its clients?

An unlicensed homeless shelter recently opened in our area. The have permits to act as a soup kitchen but have added a needle exchange and overnight shelter without license. The city pays them for each person that they keep overnight.

Unfortunately, their clients use the neighborhood as a communal bathroom as they come and go. They have also taken over the local playground, effectively excluding children and families from using it.

We've complained to our elected officials, but they are worse than useless.

Does the homeless shelter have any liability for its clients use of various private properties in the neighborhood as a public bathroom?

I've heard of bars being shut down because their patrons made too much noise and neighbors complained. Is anything similar available in this case? We are interested in both financial liability and the ability to force the government to take action.

Edit: Please let me know if this is in the wrong forum.

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

No, they do not. These are separate issues you are raising. They need to be addressed through the appropriate city departments.

 

[LdiJ]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? California

Does a homeless shelter have liability for the acts of its clients?

An unlicensed homeless shelter recently opened in our area. The have permits to act as a soup kitchen but have added a needle exchange and overnight shelter without license. The city pays them for each person that they keep overnight.

Unfortunately, their clients use the neighborhood as a communal bathroom as they come and go. They have also taken over the local playground, effectively excluding children and families from using it.

We've complained to our elected officials, but they are worse than useless.

Does the homeless shelter have any liability for its clients use of various private properties in the neighborhood as a public bathroom?

I've heard of bars being shut down because their patrons made too much noise and neighbors complained. Is anything similar available in this case? We are interested in both financial liability and the ability to force the government to take action.

Edit: Please let me know if this is in the wrong forum.

If they didn't have a permit to keep people overnight the city would not be paying them to keep people overnight.

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

If they didn't have a permit to keep people overnight the city would not be paying them to keep people overnight.

Kind of like illegal aliens never receive any services at taxpayer expense right?

 

[LdiJ]

Kind of like illegal aliens never receive any services at taxpayer expense right?

Not even remotely similar...In your example illegal aliens receive services for their US citizen children. We may not like it, but the services are actually being received by US citizens.

You have to be set up with a municipality in order to receive payment for services from that municipality. You have to jump through all kinds of hoops to get set up to receive payments for services you provide. There is no way that an organization who is not licensed to keep the homeless overnight could be paid by a municipality for keeping the homeless overnight. There is no method for that to happen.