Mayor Roy West said the City of Beaumont recently passed a camping ordinance as part of a public health and safety package aimed at reducing the impacts of homelessness on downtown businesses and neighborhoods.

"We passed a camping ordinance as a part of a public health and safety ordinance to help the unstructured homeless community in Beaumont," Mayor Roy West said. He said the policy is intended to reduce impacts on businesses and neighborhoods and will be paired with partnerships "with 501c3 agencies to remove barriers in finding jobs and homes."

West did not provide the ordinance's text, enforcement timeline, penalties or any funding amounts for the partnerships. He described the measure as intended to connect people experiencing homelessness with community partners and services rather than outlining specific operational steps.

The mayor characterized the ordinance as one element of broader public health and safety work in the central business district, including enhanced code enforcement and a vacant building ordinance aimed at downtown cleanup.