Duluth Public Safety Ordinances FAQ

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What’s all the fuss about the mayor’s public safety ordinances?

On July 9, Mayor Roger Reinert held a press conference announcing the introduction of 10 new or amended city ordinances targeting non-violent offenses. This public safety package included new prohibitions and increased penalties for violations of existing ordinances addressing a range of issues from public protest to graffiti. The ordinances were officially introduced to city council on July 15 and at that point were split into 12 distinct proposals. The quantity of these proposals and the lack of community consultation were a surprise to many and raised deep concerns among human services organizations, faith communities, organized labor, and the Duluth NAACP. On July 29, after a 7 hour meeting and 4 hours of public testimony, a city council majority approved 10 of the ordinances unamended, approved a camping ban with significant amendments, and made the first steps to strike down an ordinance aimed at curtailing panhandling. The council also voted 8-1 to commit an additional $500,000 to Stepping On Up.

Does Chum oppose all of the city ordinances?

No we do not. There are some ordinances that have been proposed that will improve public safety greatly and we are in full support. However, the ordinances were introduced and voted on with little public input or review of potential adverse consequences. We are concerned about overly broad and subjective language in some of the ordinances. For example, one ordinance that established disturbing the neighborhood as a misdemeanor does not clearly define what constitutes a neighborhood disturbance. Laws like this have historically disadvantaged low income, BIPOC and immigrant households. Our most urgent concern is for those ordinances that could have the effect of criminalizing homelessness, particularly the ban on camping on public property.

This ordinance will severely disadvantage people with nowhere else to go. The ordinance as originally proposed would have made camping or sleeping on public property a misdemeanor offense, with a potential for 90- days in jail and a $1000 fine. It would also have opened the door to charging people with a crime for sleeping in their vehicle. Thanks to community advocacy, including by Chum supporters and delegates, the city council made significant amendments to the ordinance and removed the risk of criminal penalty.

How does this effect people experiencing homelessness?

With nowhere else to go, some individuals are forced to camp on public property. If these individuals are faced with a fine we are concerned that it will bring them further from recovering from homelessness, not closer. Being forced to frequently relocate is a deeply unsettling experience and can lead to loss of contact with outreach workers and lost belongings. For someone who is struggling to find work because they have no address, reliable transportation, or even clean clothes; a fine, court date, and potential additional charges if they cannot pay that fine will increase any difficulties they have had finding work. We believe that these ordinances will make life more difficult for people who are already struggling. The Minnesota Interagency Council On Homelessness agrees, stating in a social media post on July 23: “Ordinances that fine or jail people simply for sleeping outside are counterproductive to solving homelessness.

What would happen to someone camping on public property?

Under the recently passed camping ban, individuals sleeping on public property could face a fine of up to $200 if they refuse to relocate after being warned by police officers and offered information about shelter and drop in services.

How many beds are available to people experiencing homelessness in Duluth?

At the Chum shelter there are 80 beds. But, we see over 100 guests on average each night. Our Warming Center averages over 70 people per night in the winter, with official sleeping capacity for 50. Other shelters are similarly at or beyond capacity. There is not enough room and there are too many people who need access to better services. This pushes them to sleep in places not suitable for human habitation, which is often times public property.

How many people are experiencing homelessness in Duluth?

It isn’t possible to know exactly how many people are experiencing homelessness in the city at any given point. But, between the people our Street Outreach Team serves, and the number of people staying at our shelter each night, we estimate over 1,000 people are experiencing homelessness in Duluth at any point.

Where can they go…?

This is the crux of the matter. If we do not have enough space for individuals experiencing homelessness, how can we expect them to do anything else? If we are going to ticket experiencing homelessness, but not provide adequate services it will hurt our neighbors who are struggling, cost the city more money, and not solve the problems we are facing.