Fines could soon be issued for homeless people living in encampments or loitering in the city of Brockton after two ordinances passed City Hall Tuesday night.
The ordinances targeting public camping and loitering passed in a 7-4 and 9-2 vote, respectively, and will now head to the mayor’s office for him to sign off on or reject.
The first ordinance would set a $200 fine for camping on public property and allow the removal of the tent or campsite. The second would set a $50 fine for public loitering.
City Councilor Jeffrey Thompson, sponsor of the ordinances, said the purpose is public safety and not to criminalize homelessness or target a marginalized group.
“We cannot have encampments on our sidewalks, under our bridges, in the areas that our children walk to go to school,” Thompson said. “Unfortunately, sometimes the people who occupy these encampments are intoxicated, they have mental illness. So, they present threats to our citizens. Some of our citizens have been accosted, they have been verbally abused.”