A committee of the San Diego City Council voted 3–1 April 13 to advance an ordinance banning homeless encampments if shelter beds are available.
After the vote by the city’s Land Use and Housing Committee, the issue will now advance to the nine-member city council.
The ordinance would also ban encampments within two blocks of elementary schools, shelters, in any open space or waterway, near any transit hub, and in several parks, regardless of shelter availability.
City Councilman Stephen Witburn brought the issue before the committee and told them homelessness is the number one problem San Diegans want to be addressed.
“San Diegans want very much to help people experiencing homelessness get back on their feet,” Whitburn told the committee. “But San Diegans also want people experiencing homelessness to accept shelter when a suitable bed is offered to them.”…