ALLEN, Texas — The Allen City Council recently passed a ban on sleeping or camping in public places, sparking alarm from a Collin County nonprofit that serves those experiencing housing insecurity.
The ordinance, passed by the Allen City Council Dec. 9, applies to streets, parking lots, parking garages, walkways, office buildings and apartment buildings. The ordinance also prohibits “parking of a motor vehicle, motor home, or trailer for the apparent purpose of overnight occupancy.” Allen already has an ordinance that prohibits camping in the city’s parks, according to Allen Police Chief Steve Dye.
The ordinance was proposed by Dye. It came after the city council in McKinney approved a similar ordinance in October that banned camping in parks or public areas…