Homeless in Lebanon, N.H. (Photo by James Patterson) |
This summer Lebanon created a nine-member task force to address the city's growing homeless problem, Tim Camerato reports for the Valley News. Homeless concerns include an encampment on city-owned land where 12 people were believed to be living in a vacant lot.
While the original squatters were believed to be law-abiding people, there has been concern that more people are flocking to the lot, leading to a rise in drugs and gangs, Camerato writes. Camping is illegal "in the city’s general commercial zone, where the lot is located. There’s also a state law prohibiting unauthorized camping on government property." One solution, to find housing for the homeless, has been met with some resistance from homeless at the lot.
Bing map |
The ordinance was revised in September to give first-time violators a warning, with a second offense resulting in the $100 fine, Camerato reports in a separate story. The revision was the result of a June meeting, attended by 100 people, where "many argued the proposal effectively criminalized homelessness since it’s unlikely those fined would be able to pay." A public hearing earlier this month on the ordinance was postponed in "order to rework the proposal to give police more discretion when dealing with the homeless."
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