SAVANNAH, Ga. () – In Chatham County, a revised ordinance now prohibits sleeping or camping in public areas, prompting local advocates to express their opinions on the matter.

Jennifer Dulong, Executive Director of the Chatham-Savannah Authority for the Homeless (CSAH), acknowledged mixed feelings about the vote but suggested it could offer an opportunity to assist those in need.

“I don’t think it was meant to criminalize being unhoused in our community,” Dulong said.

She said it is about public safety and connecting people to resources.

“This measure is ultimately a step towards ensuring that individuals can maintain dignity in our community,” she stated. “Living outdoors without access to essential resources like fresh and clean water and sanitary bathroom facilities is challenging. It’s about safeguarding privacy and safety, having the ability to close a door at night with a sense of security.”

Dulong said emergency shelters are about 80% full, with roughly 60-70 beds available. Transitional housing programs are just under half. However, she said the real challenge is having the right kind of space when people to start to seek help.

“Our shelters are all congregate shelter bed environments,” she said. “What that means is you’re sleeping beside a lot of people. The other challenge that we have is substance use disorder, bed spaces and bed spaces for people who are struggling with mental illness. We don’t have enough of those type of bed spaces in our community available for citizens who struggle with those challenges.”

CSAH has been a part of the process and has worked with city and county leaders on policy and resources.

“The recent investments in more street outreach initiatives, the embedding of public safety officers as the HOPE unit at SPD and there more public safety officers at Chatham County PD as well that focus on unhoused individuals,” said Dulong. “The goal is to keep them from being justice involved.”’

She said for local leaders, it’s all about trying to balance public concern with human needs.

“It’s a very difficult position to be in for local government,” Dulong said. “It’s hard because concerned citizens who want to enjoy public spaces… they’re concerned about urban camping. Unhoused people sometimes don’t have any other option. And so, to be in that place where you’re having to make those hard decisions, I can’t imagine being in that position.”

Savannah City Council is expected to vote on a similar ordinance soon.