Task force recommends anti-camping ordinance for the homeless

A homeless task force is supporting a proposed ordinance that would make it illegal for homeless people in Lawton to camp on public property.

City Council members sought the ordinance earlier this year as one of multiple means to control problems stemming from an increase in the city’s homeless population, especially in downtown and older neighborhoods in north and south Lawton. While some solutions already are being implemented — anti-panhandling signs are in place at some of the city’s busiest intersections — other solutions still are being crafted.

One is a new provision in the city’s offenses and crimes ordinances, banning what is called unauthorized camping on public property. It’s a solution allowed after U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June that cities don’t violate the U.S. Constitution by penalizing people for camping outside. The ruling stems from a 2018 lawsuit filed by homeless individuals against the Oregon city of Grants Pass, which banned camping on public property and parking overnight in city parks to battle what city leaders called an overwhelming problem with homelessness.

The ruling allowed Oregon and other states, including Oklahoma, to begin implementing policies to control homeless people. Lawton city attorneys said the draft ordinance they presented Thursday to the Homeless Action Committee closely follows a state law that will go into effect Nov. 1.

City Attorney John Andrew said the technique already is working in one Oklahoma community to convince more homeless people to take advantage of shelters and other services.

“I hope to drive more people into shelters,” he said, adding that is his goal — not increasing prosecutions or jailing individuals.

Committee members still have concerns.

Lawton Police Department Sgt. Matt Dimmitt asked about the availability of shelter space, explaining Lawton has only one homeless shelter operating and there is a possibility there won’t be space every time police need it. He asked about the idea of setting a location within the city where such homeless people could go if no shelter was available, a discussion city staff members said they would have.

Committee member Bernita Taylor said that may not be a total solution.

“We’ll never have enough shelters,” she said.

Dimmitt also asked about citing homeless people, saying Lawton Police Department’s policy now is to take such people to jail because it is difficult to write a ticket to a homeless person.

“We have no way to find them later,” he said, of the necessity of a physical address.

But, Andrew said city police have the option of labeling such tickets as “homeless” rather than citing an address.

Committee member Melissa Sims had concerns about some definitions, saying that including “blanket” under the definition of a shelter essentially means “anybody homeless could be considered camping” because blankets are commonly carried by the homeless.

Several committee members said the anti-camping ordinance should be only the first step in looking at the problems associated with homelessness.

Ward 5 Councilman Allan Hampton, whose ward encompasses much of downtown Lawton and the older surrounding neighborhoods, said his business owners have been vocal about problems they are encountering, from people sleeping in their doorways, to threatening customers and workers.

“I’ve had a lot of businesses complain about customers being assaulted by homeless demanding money,” he said.

Andrew said the proposed ordinance is the first step in a series of actions city officials want to take. He said the next issue will be those who take shopping carts from retail businesses, as well as problems caused by loitering. Committee members said they wanted Lawton businesses involved in that discussion.

Hampton asked if the anti-camping ordinance is enforceable.

“Absolutely,” Dimmitt said, adding the bigger question will be having enough manpower to adequately control the situation.