To Elmira City Council:

We are a coalition of concerned community members that support an immediate repeal of Chapter 18 of the City of Elmira Code of Ordinances Article VI Titled "Camping."  We request the immediate end to all encampment sweeps and forcible removal of people taking shelter outside.  We request the immediate cessation of ticketing, fining, arrests, and jailing of the homeless population in Elmira.

The City of Grants Pass v Johnson Supreme Court Ruling was directly cited by council members when introducing this ordinance.  Organizations such as the National Low Income Housing Coalition and the National Alliance to End Homelessness have condemned this ruling as ‘a dangerous precedent that will cause undue harm to people experiencing homelessness and give free reign to local officials who prefer pointless and expensive arrests and imprisonment, rather than real solutions,” said Ann Oliva, CEO of NAEH.

There are many other actions to be taken to increase the quality of life for homeless individuals in the city, as well as all residents, but this is the first and most important step to reverse the immediate harm caused by this ordinance.  We need immediate, supportive, non conditional housing for all, as well as a more robust network of other basic needs and services.  If the city is unable to meet the needs of its citizens, it can at the least, do no harm.

Thank you.