Episode Details

Gardner City Council Passes Ordinance Banning Unsafe Camping: A New Approach to Addressing Homelessness

The City of Gardner in Johnson County has become the first city in the county to directly address unsafe camping by unhoused individuals by passing a new ordinance. The rule, approved five to one on February 16th, prohibits camping or sleeping on public property like parks, bridges, trails, and even in parked vehicles within ten feet of doors or fifty feet of trails. The move comes after repeated complaints about one person camping along the Greenway Trail near homes and playgrounds.

The ordinance aims to keep spaces safe and clean, but it has sparked debate. Council member Kelly Johnson voted against it, arguing it targets a single case but hurts everyone unhoused, including families of twenty-one local students without stable homes. Supporters, however, say it prevents dangers like carbon monoxide from car living and bigger neighborhood issues.

City leaders stress that the goal is to link people to help first, like mental health partners and a church-funded hotel stay program. Courts can waive fines based on situations, making enforcement flexible rather than punitive. Similar rules exist in places like Wyandotte County and Topeka, as Kansas leaves it to local governments. Officials hope it promotes stable housing without filling streets, while groups like churches continue to aid those in need.

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