Palm Springs, CA

Tuesday night, Palm Springs City Council passed a much tougher ordinance on homelessness.

The new ordinance bans homeless encampments. It also allows the Palm Springs Police Department to potentially arrest people who sleep on public property but only, if there is shelter space available.

This stricter approach appears to partially coincide with the Supreme Court’s recent ruling according to NPR “that cities can ban people from sleeping and camping in public places. The justices, in a 6-3 decision along ideological lines, overturned lower court rulings that deemed it cruel and unusual under the Eighth Amendment to punish people for sleeping outside if they had nowhere else to go.”

“Writing for the majority, Justice Gorsuch said, “Homelessness is complex. Its causes are many.” But he said federal judges do not have any “special competence” to decide how cities should deal with this.”

Voting in favor was Mayor Jeffrey Bernstein, Mayor Pro Tem Ron deHarte and Lisa Middleton. Councilmember Christy Holstege, who is running for State Assembly abstained, and Councilmember Grace Garner voted against the ordinance.

72 hours notice must be given before an encampment is cleared. Violating the ordinance can result in a one thousand dollar fine and jail time up to six months.

With the new Homeless Navigation Center now open operated by Martha’s Village & Kitchen, City Council appears to be taking a tougher approach on those people experiencing homelessness that are not taking help offered. Councilmember Middleton, who is running for State Assembly said at the Council meeting, “”There are individuals who are resisting over and over again our offer of help. And they’re not just saying no; they are engaging in belligerent behavior.”

Palm Springs Police Department Chief Andy Mills said they would primarily apply the new ordinance to those who have resisted help.

Pictured: Beds For Homeless Individuals At The Homeless Navigation Center