Proposed ordinance receives major backlash at City Council

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) — Just one day after the announcement that SafeHouse Ministries will close at the end of the month, Columbus City Council considered a new ordinance that would prohibit camping on public property.

The measure, introduced by Councilor Crabb, quickly drew backlash from advocates and residents, many of whom called the proposal a step toward criminalizing homelessness. During Tuesday’s meeting, speakers from various backgrounds, volunteers, residents, and legal professionals, criticized the ordinance for targeting the unhoused without offering meaningful solutions.

Others described how displacing encampments often leads to even more instability for unhoused individuals, citing the loss of ID documents, medications, and social support networks.

The ordinance would allow law enforcement to issue citations and potentially arrest individuals for sleeping or setting up camps on public land.

Criminal defense attorney Anthony Johnson, who represents many clients struggling with housing and reentry, said the timing of the ordinance couldn’t be worse.

“When a person is homeless and they need that place where they can get some food, where they can just communicate with other people, that’s going to no longer be a resource,” Johnson said. “So where are they going to go? They’ve got to go back to the parks. They’re going to go back to the streets. They’re going to go back to what they know, unfortunately. This is not something right now where we have the ability to adequately address it.”

Council members acknowledged the ordinance’s potential impact but argued it was intended to give city services more tools to manage growing encampments, especially in areas with public safety or sanitation concerns.

“We’re not going out and trying to find people and shake them down on the street.” Mayor Skip Henderson said. “That’s not it at all, what were trying to do is the people who need help, were trying to get them help so they can get off of the streets.”  

Council members indicated that future drafts could include more specific wording to address their goals and consider public feedback. The second reading should take place next month.