Hampton is holding off on banning camping, sleeping and storing personal items on public property for now.
City Council on Wednesday postponed a vote until September 24. Mayor Jimmy Gray said that’s to update the proposed ordinance with input from residents, advocates and service providers working with people experiencing homelessness.
The pause comes as Hampton is working with nearby localities on regional approaches to combatting homelessness.
“Our plan is to ask staff to come back to meet with various stakeholders and interested parties, perhaps together, to see if we can reach consensus on how best to address the needs and issues of neighborhoods and businesses which prompted our consideration of the ordinance in the first place while ensuring Hampton remains the compassionate community we strive to be,” Gray said.
The ordinance was drafted at the request of council members who, in May, expressed concern about panhandlers leaving possessions and trash on traffic medians, and people sleeping on sidewalks and in parks and recreation facilities. Council members said they also heard complaints from neighborhood and business groups about public urination and inebriation by people sleeping on public grounds near their properties.
“You’ve got to do something, but I don’t believe that punishment in jail or excessive fines is the answer,” said Vice Mayor Steve Brown.
Gray announced deferring the vote before the meeting’s public comment period. More than a dozen residents still spoke out against the ban, calling it cruel and insisting it would worsen the situation for people without housing.
“We can’t simply say you can’t stay here, you need to go somewhere else, when there is realistically nowhere else to go,” said Glenn Cain, a Hampton resident.
Several said the ordinance criminalizes homelessness without addressing its root causes and that the penalties could make it harder for people to get into permanent housing.
“Being shelterless is not a crime, but by banning sleeping or storing belongings and other activities associated with being shelterless – you are creating criminals,” said Andria Timmer, anthropology professor at Christopher Newport University.
The proposed ordinance carries a possible misdemeanor charge, punishable by up to a year in jail or up to a $2,500 fine. Unattended items could be seized, but they must be held for 30 days and returned upon request.
The proposal requires police to warn people before citing them and give them time to pack up and leave. Officers would also be instructed to share information on available shelters or programs. Second offenses could receive a court summons.
Brown said he expects those penalties will be significantly reduced in the next version of the ordinance, and that the focus has to be on connecting people with available services. He envisions a diverse group, including people who have experienced homelessness and housing insecurity to assess what resources the city has, what gaps exist and what the next steps should be.
“We’ve got to get every corner of this community to buy in, to chime in,” Brown said. “We’ve got to get this right.”
Council is scheduled to revisit the ordinance at an August work session before a vote in September.
