The Fall River City Council will discuss an ordinance at its next meeting to curb illegal encampments throughout the city.
The council’s Committee on Ordinances and Legislation voted unanimously to enact a measure to give the city the authority to break up unauthorized campsites. A recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling clarified that a community can take reasonable action to remove homeless residents sleeping outdoors.
Homeless encampments have become a growing issue in Fall River and before the court’s ruling, the city could not remove individuals from encampments without providing shelter.
City Corporation Counsel Alan Rumsey said the high court ruling did allow for the creation of a local law. And although not perfect, it is a tool the city can use as a deterrent.
If approved by the full council, the ordinance will allow the city to break up an encampment and confiscate materials associated with it. Those who are homeless must leave the premises and can take advantage of a local shelter bed (if available) or face a fine. The issuing of penalties will be at the discretion of the city officer seeking to break up the encampment.
City Councilor Linda Pereira said moving homeless away from encampments is a public safety issue, but one fraught with complexities.
Video courtesy Fall River Government Television.
Photo Courtesy The Herald News.
There is a right way and a wrong way to go about this.Let’s see if the city council And the administration does things right If we can Find housing for illegal People We can find housing for our homeless or shelter, This must be in place First,