JEFFERSON PARISH, La. (WVUE) – The Jefferson Parish Council is moving towards potentially implementing stricter rules on homeless encampments. The council recently passed a resolution requesting the parish attorney, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Jefferson Parish District Attorney to evaluate possible changes to local ordinances concerning camping on public property.
This resolution follows a U.S. Supreme Court decision that allowed Grants Pass, Oregon, to enforce its ban on outdoor sleeping through fines. District 5 Councilman Han Liljeberg, who introduced the resolution, believes the ruling provides new enforcement options for addressing homelessness.
“[The ruling] gives us tools now that we can do something about it. It allows the parish…to not enforce this problem, allows people to accept the station in life that they shouldn’t just accept and now we can force people to get the help they might need,” Liljeberg stated.
The council unanimously approved the motion without debate. Grants Pass has been issuing nearly $300 fines, escalating to criminal charges if unpaid. However, it remains unclear what specific ordinances Jefferson Parish might adopt following the resolution.
Bruce Reilly from Voice of The Experienced (VOTE) criticized the Supreme Court decision and emphasized the existing efforts of the Jefferson Parish Homeless Task Force.
“Rather than bolster that group and put more funding and energy into that approach, to then say let’s turn it into a law enforcement issue, that’s troubling,” Reilly commented.
Terry Landry Jr., Louisiana Policy Director of the Southern Poverty Law Center, questioned the resolution’s effectiveness in addressing homelessness.
“This does nothing to solve these issues. This does nothing to solve housing issues for individuals who do not have housing or could not afford housing. By putting criminal aspects to this issue instead of actually funding more affordable housing,” Landry said.
The timeline for drafting any ordinance banning outdoor sleeping is not yet clear. The Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s office is studying the issue and plans to collaborate with the requested parties. The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office has not yet provided a comment.
The Jefferson Parish Homeless Task Force is scheduled to meet at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday (July 11) at the Joseph Yenni Building. Liljeberg has also shown interest in banning panhandling in the parish. Starting August 1, a state law will make panhandling illegal on public right-of-ways.
In Orleans Parish, the City Office of Homeless Services and Strategy released a statement following the Supreme Court ruling, noting a reported 12 percent reduction in unsheltered homelessness compared to last year. The statement emphasized that arresting individuals does not solve homelessness, and highlighted efforts to house people directly from encampments.
New Orleans City Councilmember Lesli Harris also opposed the ruling, stating:
“…some leaders have called for ‘improving’ downtown through containment strategies, sanctioned encampments, and arrests. Those tactics don’t actually work. Instead, I’ve been long committed to a more comprehensive approach that houses people living outside — and builds a system for housing people that will last for years to come…”