FLORENCE, SC (WMBF) – Florence City Council has passed the first reading of an ordinance that would let the city regulate urban camping and what the city deems \u201cimproper use of public place.\u201d<\/p>\n
The ordinance would prohibit camping, storing personal property or sleeping in any public park, on public benches or sidewalks or in other public areas such as railroad crossings. <\/p>\n
The ordinance would also prohibit those activities if they obstruct building entrances or exits.<\/p>\n
Florence Mayor Lethonia Barnes tells WMBF that the city has seen a rise in homelessness in the past several years, and claims other cities are busing their homeless population to Florence. <\/p>\n
She says the city financially supports multiple organizations that serve the homeless in the area.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re walking a tightrope,\u201d Barnes says. \u201cWhile we want to help, we also need to find a way for a hand up and not just a constant burden on the city. <\/p>\n
Barnes also says Florence police are trained to point homeless people towards available resources. \u201c<\/p>\n
If someone needs a place, they find them a place to stay,\u201d she tells WMBF. \u201cWe are providing for the need. However, we also have to make our communities safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
WMBF spoke to The House of Hope of the Pee Dee, which operates multiple homeless shelters in Florence. <\/p>\n
Chief Development Officer Julie Maxham says homelessness is a hard problem to solve anywhere, and hopes the city will point homeless people towards resources if the ordinance is passed.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust going in and wiping out a camp doesn\u2019t benefit anyone,\u201d says Maxham. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t benefit a city, because the first thing that happens is they build somewhere else.\u201d <\/p>\n
Florence City Councilman Chaquez McCall tells WMBF the council is pushing back the second reading of the ordinance to December, to allow for a study to be done prior to enforcement.<\/p>\n
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