Homeless advocate quits board over camping ban

JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. - An advocate for the homeless has resigned from a homelessness task force in a southern Indiana city after its City Council approved a camping ban on public and private properties.

Jesus Cares at Exit 0 Director Paul Stensrud tells The Courier-Journal of Louisville, Kentucky, he believes Jeffersonville leaders are unfairly targeting homeless people.

He says city leaders should have followed the advice of the Jeffersonville Homelessness Task Force, which recommended it incorporate the city's 48-hour written notice policy into the camping ordinance.

City Attorney Les Merkley says he's disappointed homeless advocates aren't supportive of the camping ordinance, which he said was drafted from similar ordinances in bigger cities. He says police officers can't issue citations or make arrests without first warning the campers.