Homeless May Be Cited In Clarendon Hills

CLARENDON HILLS, IL – Clarendon Hills is considering a rule that would empower the village to prohibit homeless people and others from camping on public property.

On Monday, the Village Board is set to vote on a recommendation by Police Chief Ed Leinweber to change the code to allow the village to charge people under the proposed rule.

In a memo, Leinweber said village staff is occasionally confronted with people who create a disruptive and unsanitary condition by sleeping or setting up camp on village property.

"Currently, staff does not have an effective means to resolve these situations, if unable to appeal to someone's reasonableness to utilize alternative shelter resources," Leinweber said.

Once the village enacts the rule, he said, staff can tell violators to leave. Those who stay would be cited and their belongings moved, he said.

Under the proposal, public camping would be declared a nuisance because of public safety concerns.

In the proposed resolution, the village cites a Supreme Court decision from earlier this year allowing towns to enact ordinances that bar public camping. It was based on an issue in Grants Pass, Oregon.