City Notifies homeless living in camps of new rules City notifies homeless living in camps of new rules -News - Austin American-Statesman ... Page 1 of 2
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City notifies homeless living in camps of new rules
By Mark D. Wilson
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Posted Oct 28,2019 at 3:19 PM
Updated Oct 28,2019 at 5:33 PM
New rules governing where those who are homeless in Austin are allowed set up camp
throughout the city went into effect on Monday. But for the time being, encampments still are
in place in many areas where they have been barred.
City staff this week are notifying people living in areas that now are off-limits to campers that
they will need to move. The Austin City Council clarified the camping rules on Oct. 17
Austin police were given a training bulletin on Friday outlining new guidelines, though they
were not taking any new enforcement action to move people on Monday.
The bulletin outlined rules that now are enforceable, including bans on camping on sidewalks,
in areas with high wildfire risk, in ways that endanger themselves or others or in ways that
block a public area.
The newest rules from the council include bans on camping, sitting or lying around the Austin
Resource Center for the Homeless, within a quarter of a mile of a homeless shelter outside of
the city's Central Business District, or within 15 feet of a business's entryway or exit during
operating hours.
The bulletin said those rules shouldn't be enforced right now, pending further steps by the city
manager.
Police were seen handing out fliers in several areas notifying those who are homeless of the
changes.
As part of their clarification on camping rules, council members included a provision directing
police to refrain from using criminal prosecution tool when dealing with people in camps for
the homeless if possible, instead trying to connect them to other places or to social services.
https://www.statesman.com/news/20191028/city-notifies-homeless-living-in-camps-of-ne... 11/6/2019
City notifies homeless living in camps of new rules -News -Austin American-Statesman ... Page 2 of 2
The American-Statesman has reached out to Austin police for more specifics on how the new
rules will be enforced.
https://www.statesman.com/news/20191028/city-notifies-homeless-living-in-camps-of-ne... 11/6/2019