Two new proposed city ordinances seek to target homelessness in Oklahoma City

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – An Oklahoma City Council Member is proposing two new ordinances this Tuesday concentrating on homelessness in Oklahoma City.  

Ward 8 Councilman Mark Stonecipher shall be proposing a trespassing and encampment ordinance this week. KFOR broke down the paperwork that embrace his plans. 

The two new proposed ordinances would enable police to arrest unhoused folks as it would radically tighten trespassing legal guidelines on each private and non-private property.  

If folks in homeless camps refuse to depart after a warning and quotation from police, officers can arrest them for trespassing.  

The encampment ordinance would ban varieties of homeless tenting like tents and different non permanent lodging.  

The trespassing ordinance would tighten already in place trespassing legal guidelines by making it simpler for police to arrest people who find themselves on public property, buildings and faculties.  

“You have to have written permission to be on that property. Fines are $500 to $1,200 dollars and up to six months in jail… If those folks have that kind of money, they’d be in housing,” stated Dan Straughan, govt director, Homeless Alliance.  

Dan Straughan with the Oklahoma City Homeless Alliance advised KFOR they’ve a number of considerations.  

“If you make sleeping outside illegal for them when they have no place else to go, there’s no possibility of them behaving legally. And that just feels and feels unfair,” stated Straughan.  
 
Straughan stated the Homeless Alliance intends to push again.  

“We’ll certainly address the council on Tuesday when the ordinance is submitted for consideration… It feels to me like perhaps the council should consult with those agencies that are doing that work every day to figure out the best way to do that. And the best way to do that is for the city to invest appropriately in street outreach services, case management services, mental health services, and most of all, in truly affordable housing,” stated Straughan.  

Straughan stated on a mean night time in Oklahoma City there are about 1,400 folks that have homelessness. Across the eight homeless shelters in Oklahoma City, there are solely 850 beds. So, 550 folks have nowhere to go.  

He additionally believes this may put extra folks in jail.  

“If we really want to get people off the streets, the way to do that is not turn them into criminals, but to resource those programs that are working so that they can do more,” stated Straughan. 

The two new proposed ordinances are set to be launched this Tuesday morning on the city council assembly. 

On December 6^th there shall be a public listening to, after which on January 3^rd there shall be a closing listening to and a vote.