Proposed Spokane ordinance would ban camping near treatment facilities

SPOKANE, Wash - Spokane's city council could make it illegal for people to camp near treatment and behavioral health facilities.

An ordinance on Monday's council agenda would prohibit unlawful camping in "areas that provide essential recovery services for the Spokane community.

It would expand the areas where camping was already made illegal through a voter-approved law last fall.

Prop 1 makes it illegal to camp near schools, parks and daycare centers; that law is being challenged through the Washington Supreme Court.

Council members Michael Cathcart and Jonathan Bingle proposed the ordinance to extend those restrictions to prohibit camping "near addiction treatment facilities, behavioral health facilities, or other support facilities."

It specifically states that camping would be prohibited within 1000 feet of those facilities.

This would target the area near Frontier Behavioral Health in downtown Spokane, where people often camp or congregate.

The council is expected to discuss the ordinance at Monday night's meeting.

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