City of Lawton officials still looking for new camping site for homeless

The City of Lawton no longer is taking homeless residents to an outdoor tent site at the Lawton Salvation Army while city officials continue to search for a new site.

City officials said last week that as part of the city’s commitment to homeless strategies, they are evaluating potential locations for a designated homeless encampment to provide a safe, low-barrier option for individuals in need. That action came after the Salvation Army earlier that week moved what has been an outdoor camping site on the south side of its complex along Southwest E Avenue to a site on the north side of Southwest E Avenue, across the street from the Salvation Army complex.

City officials said the policy for Lawton Police Department now is for officers to ask homeless people to relocate when they are found sleeping in a public place, and issue warnings for any violations. Under a policy adopted late last year, it is illegal to camp in public places (such as city parks and on city sidewalks), a move the City Council made to help offset problems being caused by some homeless people camping in some public places.

Caitlin Gatlin, communications and marketing manager for the City of Lawton, said city officials are actively working on a plan to designate a new site for homeless camping, but a timeline for that designation has not been set. The action comes after the Salvation Army asked that individuals not be brought to their site because they are unable to accommodate camping on their property, city officials said. Gaitlin said that action was taken March 8.

Officials with the Lawton Salvation Army have not said why they took that action, when asked by The Lawton Constitution earlier this month.

While city code allows Lawton police officers to issue citations to homeless people who illegally camp in public places, no citations have been issued, although officers have issued three warnings, Gatlin said.

City officials also said homeless people are taking advantage of a city program that will provide a bus ticket to a specific destination in the contiguous states, for those who want to move closer to family and friends in other communities. Gatlin said the bus ticket program, funded through the City Manager’s Contingency Fund, has helped 57 individuals with relocation.

Referrals for the program can be obtained through local homeless shelters, the neighborhood services division, Lawton Police Department or city homeless committees, City Manager John Ratliff said.