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Hampton council defers camping and storage ordinance after hours of public comment
Summary
After more than two hours of public comment, much of it urging services over penalties, Hampton City Council voted unanimously to defer final action on a proposed ordinance that would restrict camping and storing belongings on public property. Council directed staff to meet stakeholders and report back.
Hampton City Council unanimously voted to defer final action on a proposed camping and storage ordinance after an extended public-comment period that featured dozens of residents, service providers and academics urging the city to prioritize shelter and services over criminal penalties. The council motion directs staff to meet with stakeholders and report back at an August 13 work session, with final action scheduled for September 24.
Speakers testifying against the ordinance told the council it would criminalize homelessness and did not guarantee alternatives such as year-round shelter or expanded housing. Cassandra Austin Townsley, who said she had experienced housing insecurity for 4.5 years, told the council: "This ordinance will not solve homelessness. It will only punish people for being poor." City Manager Bunting explained the ordinance was intended to give officers authority to remove people exhibiting nuisance behaviors while the city increases outreach, but emphasized the administration's preference for nonpunitive engagement and for developing regional or local shelter capacity before enforcement. Bunting also said staff will convene a focus group of neighborhood, business and service-provider representatives to seek a solution that addresses public-safety and public-health concerns without criminalizing people with nowhere to go.
