People experiencing homelessness looking for safe places to sleep amid public camping bans, Open Door offers solutions

The Supreme Court made a ruling last week that allows cities to ban people experiencing homelessness from sleeping outside in public places. This ban has already been in place in Lubbock for a while, however, it raises questions about the options for people without homes, who need a place to sleep at night.

Wendy Williams is one of those people who continually look for a safe place to sleep at night. She told EverythingLubbock.com that it’s not very easy to find. Most of the time, she sleeps during the day to avoid getting robbed or ticketed for public camping at night.

“I had asked God, please God, may I rest for the evening,” Williams said about a time she was settling in to rest.

She said she’s been ticketed before and was able to pay for the fine in full, but she doesn’t know if she’ll be able to afford another bill if it happens again. Williams believes it’s a few people who have ruined public camping for the others.

“They’re making messes. They’re ruining it for the rest of us who are neat and organized. We just want a place to sleep for the evening,” Williams said.

Williams stays at Open Door during the day to get some sleep, but Open Door hopes for an even longer-term solution when it comes to having a place to sleep for those that don’t have permanent homes.

“We’re absolutely convinced that if someone has a home to live in, they’re not going to be at the park at night sleeping,” Chase Smith, the Community Center Director at Open Door said.

Open Door helps to home people permanently. 107 people are in Open Door’s Supportive Housing right now, according to their website , and they’re always looking to home more people, according to Smith.

“If we get someone in a home, that’s one less person that taxpayers have to house in jail … And also, gosh it restores dignity,” Smith said.

Smith is looking at a much bigger picture when it comes to getting people into homes and out of a cycle that lands them into legal trouble.

“Housing ends homelessness, jail doesn’t in homelessness – handcuffs don’t end homelessness – a house does,” Smith said.

Williams said she’s now considering a more permanent home with the help of Open Door.

“I’m not trying to get rich, just to live my life each day and have a safe place to sleep either during the day or the evening,” Williams said.

Grace Campus and Salvation Army also offer places for unhoused individuals to sleep.

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