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Norman council rejects proposal to allow encampments on private lawns.Norman city leaders are backing away from a controversial proposal that would have allowed homeowners to host homeless individuals camping on their property, following criticism from local officials, state leaders and residents.The proposal, discussed during a Norman City Council study session Tuesday night, would have permitted residents to obtain a city permit allowing up to two unhoused people to camp in tents on their front lawns, provided they had access to water and restroom facilities.After discussion, council members indicated they do not plan to move forward with the ordinance.“I just see this being more harmful than beneficial,” Ward 4 Councilwoman Helen Grant said.The proposal comes as Norman continues searching for ways to address homelessness while waiting for a voter-approved permanent homeless shelter that remains years away from opening.City Leaders Say Proposal Was One of Many Ideas Ward 1 Councilman David Gandesbery said the proposal was never intended as a permanent solution to homelessness but rather an attempt to explore every possible option available to the city.“We are trying everything possible that we can think of to see what might work for our community.” “It’s definitely not a long-term solution.It’s not a solution to homelessness,” Mayor Stephen Tyler Holman said.Mayor Stephen Tyler Holman said the idea originated from a Norman resident concerned about where unhoused people can legally stay.“The state doesn’t want them on state property.So where are people supposed to go that are homeless?” Holman said.Gandesbery also pointed to a lack of support from other levels of government.“We don’t receive stuff from the county to help with this issue.We don’t receive anything from the state office,” he said.Residents Near Shelter Call for Compassion Some residents who live near Norman’s existing homeless shelter said the city must continue looking for humane ways to assist people experiencing homelessness.Jennifer and William Harrison said homelessness will not disappear without additional resources and community support.“When you don’t give them resources or a hand, it just creates a bigger problem,” Jennifer Harrison said.“It’s not going to go away.” The Harrison’s said residents who want to help should be allowed to do so.“If you want to help somebody and give them a hand up, you should be allowed to,” William Harrison said.“We need to invest more in helping each other instead of trying to keep each other down.” State Leaders Condemn Proposal The proposal drew sharp criticism from several Republican state leaders ahead of Tuesday’s meeting.In a joint statement, House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, Reps.Danny Sterling and Jonathan Wilk, Sen.Lisa Standridge and Cleveland County Commissioner Jacob McHughes urged city leaders to reject what they called a “radical ordinance.” The group argued the proposal would undermine residential neighborhoods, threaten property values and create public safety concerns.“Imagine purchasing your forever home to raise your children, only to find tents housing homeless individuals appearing in neighboring front yards,” the statement said.“The neighborhood you invested in is fundamentally changed.” The officials also warned that the ordinance could negatively affect Norman’s reputation as the home of the University of Oklahoma.“Oklahomans are generous and want to help people facing difficult circumstances, but if the residents of Norman and students of the University of Oklahoma wanted to experiment with failed policies disguised as compassion, they would move to Austin, Texas,” the statement said.Democrats Also Oppose Measure Opposition to the proposal crossed party lines.Norman’s Democratic state representatives — Jared Deck, Annie Menz and Jacob Rosecrants — issued a joint statement calling the proposal “an embarrassment” and arguing it did not reflect the work already being done by local organizations addressing homelessness.The lawmakers emphasized that the measure was only part of a study session and was not scheduled for a vote.They argued that efforts should remain focused on housing, treatment programs and workforce opportunities rather than temporary encampments.“The community of Norman puts our compassionate words into action by working to provide meaningful pathways out of homelessness and either into treatment or the workforce,” the statement said.Additional Concerns Raised by State Officials Senate President Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton also urged city council members to reject the proposal, citing concerns about public safety, sanitation and increased demands on emergency services.“We cannot allow any city in Oklahoma to become Portland or Los Angeles,” Paxton said in a statement.Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond likewise expressed opposition, saying his office was monitoring the proposal.“We can show kindness to those in need without compromising public safety or sanitation,” Drummond said in a statement posted on social media.Search for Solutions Continues Although council members appear unlikely to advance the ordinance, city officials acknowledged that homelessness remains a growing challenge in Norman.With a permanent shelter still years from completion, local leaders say they will continue searching for ways to provide assistance while balancing neighborhood concerns.For residents like the Harrisons, the discussion highlighted the need for continued action rather than inaction.“It’s not going to go away,” the Harrisons said.Norman Proposed Encampment Ordinance.pdf A document detailing Norman’s proposed ordinance to allow unhoused encampments on private yards.