There are roughly 1,000 homeless people living in Cobb County, many of them receiving shelter and resources from nonprofits based in Marietta. Citing an influx of calls from citizens reporting homeless people squatting on their property, Mayor Steve Tumlin has asked the City Council to consider curtailing their ability to set up camp in the Gem City.
At its Tuesday night meeting, the council discussed the issues of squatting, homelessness, and private property owner rights. Squatting has become synonymous with a hostile takeover of one’s home — and is at the forefront of legislation and political punditry across the country.
But, defined as the illegal occupation of an uninhabited building or piece of land, squatting can also be stretched to encompass unsheltered homeless people who live on public land, which is part of what Tumlin’s proposed ordinance would do.
“I think we have a duty to the people that are victims (of squatting),” Tumlin said. “Our whole society is based on accountability and protection. And I think we’re dropping the ball here.”
Proposed changes
The ordinance, which will be officially presented to the council in June, would make it illegal for any person to trespass on private property from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. “with intent for relaxation, camping or squatting with minimal accessories of habitation” without the written consent of the owner, according to a draft Tumlin shared with the MDJ.
It would also outlaw squatting and camping on public property — including public parking, under bridges or on benches — and incur a minimum $25 fine and three days in the Cobb County jail for first time violators, with increased penalties for repeat offenders.
According to interim Marietta Police Chief David Beam, if a homeless person has set up camp on private property with the permission of the owner, there is…
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