COLUMBIA, S.C. — Columbia City Council discussed an ordinance targeting the unhoused community, adding restrictions on 'urban camping'.
“'Urban camping' is sleeping in public places," said Reggie Solis is and advocate for those without a home in the Midlands. "A lot of cities across the United States tolerate it because they know there is no place for these people to go.”
Tuesday’s city council agenda stated there would be a discussion focused on urban camping as the city updates its previous ordinance.
“Right now the city is gonna give warnings, ticketing citations and jailing for 'urban camping',” Solis said.
The updated ordinance clarifies that a warning is not related to the location of the camping but rather the camping itself is an unlawful act.
In addition to that clarification, the ordinance now requires proper signage to ensure people know camping in a public place is illegal.
Mayor Daniel Rickenmann said this is to help contain an increased population of those without a home.
“It’s not healthy for the folks that are unhoused and it’s not healthy to the business and the residents,” said Rickenmann. "Because I think we’ve seen such an increase and so much pressure on our neighborhoods and businesses, especially in the downtown area. It’s starting to creep into other areas."
But Solis said he has concerns about this starting a cycle with people who may not have a choice but to sleep outside.
“I didn’t see anything in that information that says they can refer you to a shelter. So what is gonna happen, they’re arrested, they get released, they’re gonna sleep in public, and they’re gonna get arrested -- and it’s just gonna be back and forth,” he said.
Mayor Rickenmann says there are already resources like Transitions and the city's Rapid Shelter for people to use, but he says not many are taking advantage of it.
“How do we get folk into the services so that we can decrease that number. We’re not going to solve it and it hasn’t been solved as long as we’ve all been walking the earth. But there is this way to reduce it but we gotta get people into services.”
Solis adds even with those resources in place he says there’s a need for more.