The decision comes after numerous advocates for people experiencing homelessness spoke out against the ordinance.
The Fall River City Council voted last Tuesday evening to ban unauthorized camping on public property, outlawing homeless encampments and imposing fines on those living outdoors.
The ordinance, which the council passed 6-1, makes it unlawful for a person to camp or leave camping materials on public property without prior authorization and allows for police to dispose of camping materials and personal property.
The ordinance also makes it illegal for a person to lie down or sleep on a public street, sidewalk, bike path, or public way or to urinate or defecate in a public space.
Anyone violating the ordinance is subject to a fine unless they are homeless, no shelter beds are available, and the person is willing to go to a shelter immediately if space becomes available.
The new law comes months after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that local governments can enforce bans on homeless people sleeping outside in public places.