Victor Valley Family Resource Center v. City of Hesperia is a lawsuit challenging the City of Hesperia’s attempts to unlawfully restrict housing and support services for individuals with criminal records.
Victor Valley Family Resource Center (VVFRC) is a nonprofit organization in Hesperia that connects individuals who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless to transitional supportive housing. The suit argues that efforts by Hesperia to shut down three transitional homes are intended to banish residents released on probation.
Currently, the San Bernardino County Probation Department refers individuals released from incarceration who have no place else to go to VVFRC, which provides transitional housing for up to one year, as well as meals, case management services and permanent housing placement.
The lawsuit argues that several Hesperia municipal codes which were used to target VVFRC violate both the California and U.S. Constitutions. In some cases, Hesperia enforced a code prohibiting residential structures that house more than one individual on probation who are not related by blood or marriage, violating the individual plaintiffs’ right to association. One of VVFRC’s transitional homes was forced to close as a result, and the remaining homes may face the same fate.
Case Developments
April 6, 2018
The Court approves the parties' settlement. Read the settlement.
July 18, 2017
The City of Hesperia substantially amends its nuisance housing ordinance, removing mandatory tenant screening and eviction provisions that ACLU SoCal’s suit challenged as unconstitutional.
March 21, 2017
The City of Hesperia repeals its discriminatory housing code in response to ACLU SoCal’s litigation.
July 1, 2016
The federal court granted the motion for a preliminary injunction order, questioning the constitutionality of Hesperia’s restrictive housing codes. Read the order.
June 13, 2016
ACLU SoCal filed a motion for preliminary injunction. Read the motion.
May 10, 2016
ACLU SoCal’s clients applied for a temporary restraining order to stop the City of Hesperia from forcing them out of their homes. Read the order.
May 4, 2016
ACLU SoCal filed suit against the City of Hesperia on behalf of the VVFRC. Read the complaint.
