Council approves camping and encampment ordinance amid heated public comment; renews Housing First funding

The Wichita City Council approved an update to the city's camping and encampment ordinance (consent agenda item 12A) in a 4-3 vote after more than two hours of public comment that included shelter operators, outreach workers, residents with lived experience and advocates.

The measure amends city rules governing where and how people may camp or establish improvised dwellings in public and some private spaces. Vice Mayor Brandon Ballard and Council Members who supported the ordinance said the changes give law enforcement discretionary tools for managing safety while the city builds shelter capacity; opponents warned the changes could criminalize people who must sleep in vehicles or encampments and urged more time to refine enforcement and services.

Why it matters: Speakers at the meeting said the ordinance will affect unhoused people immediately and urged the city to coordinate enforcement with shelter capacity and outreach. At the same meeting the council approved a related funding agreement with Sedgwick County to continue the Housing First program, which supplies rent and utility subsidies plus case-management services for people identified as chronically homeless.

Supporters and opponents made several specific points. Richard Harris, a frequent public commenter, said the ordinance would criminalize truck drivers who sleep in their cabs and warned that strict enforcement could lead to preventable deaths in winter. City attorney Sharon DeGraft told the council the ordinance contains exemptions that allow temporary camping for up to 72 hours on private property with owner permission and allows posted commercial properties to permit overnight parking when the property owner permits it.

People with lived experience urged caution. Aaron Ferguson, who said he has been homeless, testified that the city's approach can feel "heavy handed" and recounted how institutional responses can push people away. Patrick Murphy, who identified himself as a long-time Wichita resident, asked the council to delay the ordinance to include people with lived experience in redrafting. Adam Greenleaf and Shania Austin, with the nonprofit group Grassroots Bridge Builders, said many people avoid shelters because of treatment there and recommended the city integrate people who have been homeless into planning for the MAC and other resources.

Service providers urged coordination with shelter capacity. David Hodge, CEO of Union Rescue Mission, described his organization's emergency and transitional programs and said the mission currently operates emergency shelter beds plus residential and transitional programs. "We have space for about 50 men in our residential programs and 20 in our transitional program," Hodge said, describing both a three-month "quick launch" program and a one-year program for people needing more intensive support. Hodge told council the mission is prepared to provide an intake office to link people to longer-term programs as the MAC is built out.

Council action and follow-up: Council Member Brandon Glasscock moved to approve the consent item; the roll call recorded the motion as passing 4-3. The council directed staff to continue work on enforcement training, including "compassionate enforcement" and coordination with outreach and caseworkers; City Manager Robert Layton said staff plans to present workflow and training and then bring those materials to the homeless task force provider committee for refinement.

On funding, the council approved a 2025 funding agreement with Sedgwick County to continue the Wichita-Sedgwick County Housing First program. The two governments historically split the program costs; Council Member Johnson moved approval and the measure passed unanimously. Housing staff reported that since the program began in 2009 it has housed 587 chronically homeless individuals; as of Nov. 30, 2024, 87 participants were housed through the program. The agreement funds rent and utility subsidies and continues a dedicated Housing First case manager employed by Comcare; up to $59,404 of the county's contribution in 2025 is earmarked for that case manager.

Local capacity and concerns: City and provider representatives acknowledged gaps remain. City Manager Layton told council a staff team is developing enforcement workflow and training to include private caseworkers accompanying HOTT (the Homeless Outreach Team) on field visits. Vice Mayor Ballard and Council Member Hoheisel said plans to provide personal storage and kennel space at the MAC are in progress, and staff noted federal grant rules limit some shelter policies. Union Rescue Mission and other providers said they will coordinate an intake office and data sharing so enforcement does not exceed housing capacity.

The council later asked staff for further detail on shelter and program capacity, staff hours expended and the costs of housing placements; staff agreed to provide those figures to council members for follow up.

Ending: The ordinance and the Housing First funding agreement were both approved, but council members and speakers made clear the city will continue to refine enforcement, shelter operations and outreach coordination. Several speakers asked that people with lived experience remain part of the ongoing planning and implementation discussions.