Hampton City Council Passes New Ordinance That Compromises Safety of Homeless Population

By Liv Armstead 

The Hampton City Council passed a new ordinance last Wednesday that they claim is protecting residents and businesses, but not everyone seems to agree with that sentiment. 

Courtesy of WLRN

The ordinance details that it is now against the law for anyone to sleep or reside on public property in Hampton, according to WAVY News. Anyone convicted of this crime would face a Class 2 misdemeanor, which is punishable by a maximum of six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. 

Those found sleeping or residing on public property (i.e., parks, beaches, schools, sidewalks, etc.) will first be given warnings and provided with resources that can help them in the area, such as housing and mental health resources. Hampton residents argue that these offered resources are not enough to sustain a comfortable lifestyle. 

Hampton resident Brianna Morgan, who previously served on the Legal Aid Justice Center of Virginia Board and Directors but has now been homeless for over a year, criticizes the systems and resources put in place. 

“I called the housing crisis hotline, I called ForKids [and] I got crisis stabilization, but that only lasted for 72 hours,” said Morgan, per WAVY News. “Every last one of these systems [is] broken. This isn’t just about saying the systems are broken. It’s about holding the people in charge accountable.”

Hampton City manager Mary Bunting claims that the ordinance is not meant to target homeless people. She details that the ordinance will allow police officers to efficiently ask people who are residing on property or causing disruptions to neighborhoods to leave, per WAVY News. 

Despite Bunting’s claims, some residents claim that the ordinance is a risky move and don’t see the benefits of it. Hampton University student Jonathan Jackson, who is from Hampton, VA, says he sees the positive intentions behind it, but also has suspicions. 

“While the ordinance seems like it’s coming from a genuine place of concern for the public safety, I don’t think it will initially turn out good,” said Jackson. “Temporary displacement will only cause long-standing future problems.” 

City leaders will reconvene at the City Council in six months to talk about the impact of the ordinance.