JACKSONVILLE, Ark. – The homeless in Arkansas are finding fewer options as ordinances banning public camping are beginning to spread.
The Supreme Court upheld city bans for camping outdoors in public places this June when it issued an opinion in Grants Pass v. Johnson. Jacksonville passed its version in July. As a response, Ward followed in August.
Supreme Court lets law stand that allows for ticketing of homeless people camping Cabot also began the process in August with additional readings and votes to follow. During the first council meeting discussing the ban, Cabot Police Chief Scott Steely implied Jacksonville’s decision impacted them down Highway 67-167.
“We have seen an influx over the last few weeks,” he said.
Jacksonville, Cabot and Ward do not have shelters of their own. One non-profit for the homeless in Little Rock questions what these ordinances are trying to achieve.
The Van in Little Rock works to provide services & resources to people experiencing homelessness in the area. Founder Aaron Reddin said his team has seen people who need items like clothes & toiletries after the few possessions they had were destroyed when city’s dismantled homeless camps. That’s why Reddin said the Supreme Court’s decision in June to uphold bans on public camping did not surprise him.
“Now we have this mentality of we just cannot tolerate or see poverty for some reason and instead of doing something about we try to weaponize the legal system against people who have nothing and are living in tents. It makes no sense to me,” Reddin said.
The ordinance doesn’t outlaw napping in a public place, but states for the health, safety, and welfare of citizens, no one can set up a sleeping bag or a stove for example. If one does, police can make the person leave similarly to how they can in private places.
With public camping a felony, Tennessee homeless seek refuge During the public meetings, police said although there are fines and even jail time possible for repeat offenses, that’s not the goal.
“We will still just ask them to leave and go somewhere else,” Jacksonville Police Chief Brett Hibbs said. “Where? I don’t have an answer.”
Hibbs noted that police do ask people if they need shelter and have taken people as far as authorities can or find them a way to a shelter if they desire it. He added most of the time people do not want that.
Jacksonville Mayor Jeff Elmore said the Cabot city government does not have anything in place to assist to which one councilman responded, “The city can’t do it because of the liability.”
“What are you going to be liable for? Improving people’s lives? ” Reddin asked. “Get insurance.”
Reddin said he’s seen an increase in the homeless population particularly among the elderly becoming unable to afford the cost of living. He also said even if the homeless do get pushed to places like Little Rock, there is not enough shelter space for the hundreds that already need it.
“I’m going to call them lazy. I’m really going to call you lazy,” Reddin said. “Everyone around kicks folks and expects them to funnel them into Little Rock and expects everyone here to carry the weight of all these other communities.”
Efforts made in recent years to increase aid to the homeless such as the Russ Buss in Russellville and Mission Machine in Searcy were also mentioned by Reddin.
Some cities facing homelessness crisis applaud Supreme Court decision, while others push back Two nearby communities are taking differing approaches to the topic. A statement from the mayor’s office in Beebe noted that the city did not have a problem with a homeless population and would not address the issue until such a problem arose. To the west in Sherwood, the city attorney noted that a version of an ordinance was in development to be presented to the city officials later this month.
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