Yakima to Decide on Another Proposal for City’s Homeless

YAKIMA, Wash. (AP) — Yakima officials will consider extending a ban on unauthorized camping in some areas of the city to include all public property.

The Herald-Republic reports the city already prohibits camping in some areas such as parks. The City Council is meeting Tuesday to discuss whether that ban should also include other public property, including alleys and sidewalks.

The city recently ordered residents of a homeless encampment along a sidewalk to move to a vacant parking lot across the street from the Yakima Police Department. Officials had approved the new city-owned location after failing to pass an emergency ordinance that would've allowed the residents to move into a vacant lot owned by Yakima Neighborhood Health Services.

Yakima officials say they're still working on a long-term housing solution for homeless residents.