At Monday night’s Aurora City Council study session, councilmembers will discuss a new “tough love” approach to homelessness — which would harshen the city’s camping ban and create a new court system for low-level offenses by homeless people.
Mayor Mike Coffman has referred to the proposed approach to homelessness as “tough love” due to its cracking down on camping in the city while addressing the root causes of homelessness in court.
Coffman announced plans for the approach on social media and will officially bring it to the council Monday night, with hopes of moving it forward to a regular council meeting for a vote.
The first ordinance, if passed at a future regular meeting, would strengthen laws against urban camping in the city, adding areas that are “Closed to Camping” to the city code, according to council documents.
In “Closed to Camping” areas, unauthorized camps can be immediately abated without prior notice.
At Monday’s study session, Coffman will also bring forward a resolution for the new court along with Councilmember Curtis Gardner.