The Jefferson Parish Council unanimously approved an ordinance Wednesday making it unlawful for people to camp overnight on public or private property without permission, just hours after state officials began clearing homeless encampments in New Orleans ahead of the Super Bowl.
The new law, which will go into effect later this month, allows the parish to clear illegal campsites with 24-hours notice unless there’s an immediate health and safety risk, in which case law enforcement can order people leave the area immediately. Failure to vacate a property could result in punishment ranging from community service, fines or jail time.
There are around 300 homeless people in Jefferson, triple what there was before the coronavirus pandemic, officials said. But there is no shelter. The nearest homeless shelter is in New Orleans…