Austin police start enforcement of Phase 3 of the camping ban with warnings, not citations
Austin police have shifted to Phase 3 of enforcing the ban on public camping. It allows officers to give citations and make arrests if people experiencing homelessness won't leave potentially dangerous areas of the city. (Photo: Bettie Cross){p}{/p}
Austin police have shifted to Phase 3 of enforcing the ban on public camping. It allows officers to give citations and make arrests if people experiencing homelessness won't leave potentially dangerous areas of the city.
The Austin news media was not invited to go with officers as they started implementing the stepped-up enforcement strategy. Instead, the City of Austin provided video of Phase 3 enforcement which, at this point, looks very similar to Phase 2.
“This is a citation phase. We did not write any citations during today, but we did write warnings and are kind of making sure people know what's going on,” said Officer Justin Cummings with APD.
APD says 21 written warnings and no citations were issued on Tuesday along the hike and bike trail in Central Austin. Officers say this is a final push to get people to find alternatives to camping along busy streets or in other dangerous areas that have a high risk of fire or flooding.
“We don't want to write citations and we don't want to take people to jail. But there’s the will of the people. They voted for Prop B, so we do have to do some enforcement. But we're trying to do everything we can to get voluntary compliance,” said Officer Cummings.
Austin voters approved Proposition B in May, making it illegal to camp in public areas, to sit or lie down in the downtown or UT campus areas, or to solicit money or other things of value at specific hours and locations.
“Coordination during this effort has been productive through progressive enforcement, outreach and education,” said Interim Austin Police Chief Joseph Chacon. “While officers may write citations for violations, we are hopeful for no punitive penalties and to connect individuals to services and resources through diversion efforts in partnership with Downtown Austin Community Court. Enforcing this ordinance is a challenge. Like many communities battling homelessness, there simply aren’t enough places for people experiencing homelessness to go.”
One encampment along Ben White Boulevard in South Austin was cleared on Wednesday. 45 people living under Highway 290 were offered rooms at the Southbridge Shelter on Interstate-35.
“We make an explicit offer of guaranteed shelter and a connection to a permanent housing resource,” said Dianna Grey, Austin’s Homeless Strategy Officer.
Grey says shelter space in Austin is increasing, but it's still not enough. The City’s Homeless Strategy Division has opened Southbridge, a 75-bed bridge shelter in south Austin and is working to open a second 55-room bridge shelter in central Austin by the middle of August.
The latest tally estimates there are 2,500 people experiencing homelessness in Austin. Of those, about 1,500 are living outside in tents or cars. Of those, about 45 were living in the Ben White encampment. The City of Austin has found shelter for them, but that leaves many more who are now facing Phase 3 of enforcement.
“I feel like that we as a city have taken a really prudent approach to acknowledging the will of the people. We're implementing the ordinance, but we're doing it in a way that acknowledges what resources are available,” said Grey. “Most folks move along. There is voluntary compliance.”
The city is already planning two more HEAL Initiative outreach efforts in coming months. One site is in downtown and the other in North Austin. They will create pathways to housing for people living at priority encampments.
“They just want a place where they can be. Where they can be alone and we won't have to mess with them and they don't have to worry about security. Where they don't have to worry about getting a citation or possibly getting arrested,” said Officer Cummings. “We are in law enforcement so we have to enforce the laws but that doesn't mean we have to take the compassion out of this process.”