Wichita to begin stronger enforcement of illegal camping law despite concerns from some

Some Wichita City Council members made a last-ditch effort Tuesday to prevent a revised ordinance for stronger enforcement against illegal camping from going into effect.

“I think the numbers that we’ve seen so far with the 110 contacts and 76 refusals show that we still have much more work to do with our unhoused community before increasing enforcement efforts,” said council member Brandon Johnson, referencing numbers released by the Wichita Police department earlier this week that showed dozens of homeless people refused to go to the winter shelter.

The ordinance passed on its second reading along the same lines of its first vote. Council members Mike Hoheisel, Maggie Ballard and Johnson voted no.

The new limits, which go into effect this month, allow for rapid removal of reported encampments by law enforcement, city workers and contractors by eliminating the need to post notices to vacate. A particular focal point will be locations that “pose health and safety concerns” such as doorways, sidewalks, areas near bridges, bus shelters, playground and the multi-agency center campus.

Fines for illegal camping were lowered from $500 to $200 or community service hours at $10 an hour.

Several people spoke against the change Tuesday, including homeless resident Aaron Ferguson.

“In the back of my mind I can’t help but think that … until the numbers are done on this, people would do well to view every homeless person not as an illegal camper, but as somebody who may have been forced into this situation.”

Wichita resident and political consultant Ben Davis spoke in favor of the change.

“It tightens some of the restrictions, it brings down some of the penalties, and it allows a broader range of discretion for law enforcement officials in the city of Wichita,” Davis said.

This story was originally published January 7, 2025 at 12:26 PM.