Homeless Mundelein resident urges board to amend public-camping ordinance; police say services were offered

James Holm, a Mundelein resident who said he has been homeless in the village for more than 25 years, used the public-comment period at the Feb. 10 Mundelein Village Board meeting to urge trustees to amend what he identified as Ordinance No. 0241052 because he said parts of it criminalize camping and could punish people who lack shelter.

Holm told the board he had four questions about the ordinance and described three provisions of particular concern: section 4 (which he said declares municipal property “not permitted nor intended to be used in public camping”); section 10(g) (which he said allows substitution of community service for monetary fines); and section 7 (an indemnity clause he summarized as requiring people to accept personal risk). “My name is James Holm and I’m homeless. I have lived in Mundelein more than 25 years,” he said. He also asked directly, “Can section 4 be amended?”

Holm said outreach through shelters and regional providers was limited: he described visits to a drop-in center and a PADS center that, he said, could not secure local motel placement because of capacity and budget limits, and that staff advised him to use a tent. He said the ordinance as he read it would include a $75 fine for “just existing” and, in later escalations, could lead to incarceration. Holm asked whether community service — cleaning rights-of-way and public facilities — could be accepted as an alternative to paying fines.

Police and village staff who spoke after Holm said officers have offered him help and housing referrals on multiple occasions. Village staff said an officer in the “coach program” helped arrange an offer through the Salvation Army that Holm later declined or did not accept. Police described offers to refer Holm to Waukegan-area resources and to a motel program (referred to in the meeting as a Super 8/Motel 8 option) and urged him to accept placement when offered. Officers also said they have not issued a citation to Holm but are balancing enforcement with continuing outreach.

Board members asked questions meant to clarify Holm’s needs and whether out-of-town placements would be acceptable to him. Holm repeatedly said his primary reason for staying in Mundelein was to remain near a friend named Will. Trustees and staff repeatedly requested that Holm accept the housing referrals so he could move indoors temporarily while caseworkers pursue longer-term solutions.

No trustee moved to amend or otherwise change the ordinance during the meeting; Holm’s remarks were part of the public-comment period and did not trigger a board vote or formal direction recorded in the transcript.

Clarifying details captured during Holm’s comments include his assertion that the ordinance imposes a $75 fine that may escalate to further penalties and mentions of the substitution-of-penalty clause allowing community service as an alternative. Holm said regional shelter partners advised tenting when motel placement was unavailable; police confirmed they attempted to place him with the Salvation Army and other programs but said offers were declined or not accepted.

The board did not take formal action on Ordinance No. 0241052 at the Feb. 10 meeting. Village staff encouraged Holm to meet again with officers to review current shelter availability and to accept an offered placement so outreach can continue.