Fremont, California passed a homeless camping ban in a 6-1 vote.
Under the new policy, homeless people may not camp on city streets, sidewalks, or parks. The ordinance further allows the city to fine those providing homeless people with blankets or other camping provisions, KRON 4 reports.
Those breaking the ordinance can be fined up to $1,000 and up to six months in jail.
Fremont City Attorney Rafael Alvarado Jr. said, “The ordinance does not make it a violation of the municipal code to provide someone food or clothing or other amenities.”
Fremont Police Chief Sean Washington noted that arrest is the “last option” to be used only in “extreme situations, where we do identify some sort of conflict, hazard or safety issue and we’re unable to get cooperation with that occur.”
The Fremont Police Association voiced support for the ordinance ahead of its vote.
“A small portion of the unhoused community places [an] inordinate demand on Fremont’s public safety resources,” the group wrote on social media. “Repeatedly dealing with some of these individuals can unnecessarily place firefighters and police officers in harms way. The passage of this ordinance allows the public safety experts to appropriately address public safety issues while still [providing] resources to our unhoused community members.”
Homelessness was up 18% in the United States throughout 2024.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development found that more than 770,000 people are homeless, or about 23 out of every 10,000 Americans. The number does not include those who are staying with friends or family because they lack their own home.
Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA) called the ordinance “excellent.”
“This is excellent and exactly why I petitioned the Supreme Court to allow California cities to clear homeless encampments,” he wrote on X. “Even liberal Bay Area cities are taking advantage of the decision and bringing order to their streets.”
