Humboldt supervisors direct staff to craft ‘compassionate assistance’ approach to camping on county property

The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors voted Nov. 5 to direct staff to form a multi‑department committee to draft a “compassionate assistance” ordinance addressing camping on county‑owned properties.

The measure, introduced by Supervisor Michelle Madrone, asks county staff to convene public works, the sheriff’s office, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and two board members to develop an ordinance that balances public‑land access, environmental protection and pathways to services. Madrone said the goal is to provide tools that steer individuals toward available services without defaulting to punitive measures.

The board heard extensive presentations and public comment before the vote. Sheriff Hounsell told the board the department had “responded to about 1,500 calls over the last five years when it comes to camping,” and described locations such as the McKay Tract and Bear River Bridge as recurring problem sites. Public Works Director Tom Matson said disposal and cleanup costs run “anywhere from $50,000 to $150,000” a year, and described site‑specific cleanups that required contractor crews and special handling for e‑waste and Freon‑containing appliances.

DHHS staff and several callers urged caution about criminalizing homelessness. “Criminalization only serves to further marginalize individuals,” a DHHS‑affiliated commenter said during Zoom public comment, citing research that enforcement-only approaches often push people into more precarious situations and do not address lack of affordable housing.

Supervisors debated several tradeoffs: where a ban could legally be enforced, whether enforcement should be linked to available shelter or diversion, and how to protect sensitive habitats. Some supervisors supported targeted rules for county parks and environmentally sensitive areas rather than an across‑the‑board ban.

The final motion, carried 4‑1, directs staff to assemble a working group and return with recommended ordinance language and options for implementation, monitoring and funding. The motion names public works, the sheriff’s office and DHHS as core participants and designates two board members as ad‑hoc participants on the committee. The board did not adopt any enforcement ordinance at the Nov. 5 meeting.

Next steps: staff will convene the working group, solicit public input and return with draft recommendations and potential budget implications for the board to consider.