Possible changes to city ordinances could affect homeless people

MOBILE, Alabama (WALA) – The Mobile City Council will meet Tuesday and will consider three city ordinances to redefine the terms of aggressive solicitation, obstructions on city sidewalks and loitering in parks after dark.

Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson is the sponsor of all three.

City officials said the modification to these ordinances is the result of changes in federal law that are not currently reflected in the Mobile city code.

They said these changes will clarify old language and update old policies.

We were told the goal is still to help the homeless, but the ordinances are there to penalize those who refuse to follow the law and reject available resources in the community.

Currently, penalties for violating these ordinances include a fine of up to $500, up to six months in prison, and in some cases, community service.

We are told that the sanctions will not change.

Eric Overstreet is the founder of Ryan’s Refuge, a homeless shelter in Mobile.

After learning about the possible changes to these ordinances, she is concerned that the city will not have enough resources for the homeless people this will affect.

“All the rehabilitation centers are full. The jail is full. The only answer would be to build things, you know, to compassionately help them change their lives. “That is the only answer,” he said.

“Every time they start enforcing it, it’s going to affect the homeless,” Overstreet said.

City officials said these changes will give Mobile’s new homeless outreach team additional tools to reach out and engage with homeless people in hopes of connecting them to local services.

If approved by the city council, the changes will not take effect immediately, giving the public a chance to familiarize themselves with them.