More than 100 citations issued since Savannah passed Urban Camping Ordinance

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Since Savannah leaders passed an ordinance that prohibits sleeping or storing items in public spaces, Savannah police have arrested more than 100 people.

They say they’re also working to make resources available to those without homes.

It’s been about 90 days since Savannah leaders passed the Urban Camping Ordinance. Since then, they’ve given 179 citations.

Eight precent of them led to arrests.

The ordinance made it illegal to sleep or store personal belongings in public spaces.

This includes parks and public property— defined as streets, sidewalks, and other right-of-way, within city limits.

When it passed unanimously by city council back in June.

Savannah Mayor Van Johnson said the only stipulation would be that they receive an update in about 90 days.

“The homeless authority works very closely to make sure that we are not just moving our problem to another community.”

They say the partnership between Savannah Police and service providers like the Chatham Savannah Authority for the Homeless is supposed to provide support for unhoused individuals who may not otherwise have a place to go.

“We were able to see that 75% were interacting with our care.”

They say of the 179 people cited so far 135 of them are in the Homeless Management Information System.

That support includes things like getting confirmed housing in shelters and bus tickets to help relocate them there.

“47 bus tickets have been purchased through the homeless authority help individuals to relocate to confirmed housing since this ordinance has passed. That shows us that when we don’t know that those induvial are directly cited, they did look at this as an opportunity to perhaps make a choice that would allow them to get back to more stable housing opportunities.”

They’re now proposing more programs to help get people into shelters easier. One of them, “Dignity Depot”, which would give them a secure place to store personal belongings.

And a funded pet shelter program at Renegade Paws for those with pets.

Leaders say this isn’t a perfect system but their main goal is to find balance between community safety and helping the unhoused.