Empire State Review Team 
Summit, NJ, Proposes Ordinance to Address Homelessness
Published in New Jersey – The affluent city of Summit, New Jersey, is at the center of controversy as it considers a new ordinance that seeks to prohibit sleeping, camping, or storing personal belongings in public areas. The proposed measure raises significant concerns about potentially criminalizing homelessness.
Details of the Proposed Ordinance
City officials are contemplating an ordinance that would impose fines or potentially jail time for individuals found sleeping or camping in public spaces. This legislation, introduced during a recent city council meeting, could result in penalties of up to $2,000 or 90 days of imprisonment for violators.
Despite the expressed need for such measures, Summit reports a very small unhoused population, currently estimated at around five individuals. In response to homelessness, the city has already established a dedicated task force to address the issue effectively.
Context and Implications
This initiative comes in the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court decision that supports laws permitting cities to ban the use of blankets, pillows, or cardboard boxes by homeless individuals. Critics of the proposal argue it fails to address the underlying causes of homelessness.
“If you make it illegal for someone to fall asleep on a bench, that doesn’t actually do anything to resolve their homelessness,” said Richard Uniacke, president of Bridges Outreach. “The only way to solve homelessness is with a home.”
Uniacke expressed concern that criminalizing homelessness complicates efforts by caseworkers and outreach organizations trying to assist individuals, especially when essential documents are lost during sweeps of encampments.
Furthermore, he pointed to the increasing rates of homelessness in New Jersey, citing a 24% rise in the state’s unsheltered population, as reported in the 2024 Point-in-Time count. Rising rental costs and evictions are contributing factors to this trend.
Community Reaction and Future Prospects
Summit, as one of New Jersey’s wealthiest municipalities, has not historically faced a significant homelessness crisis, making the push for stricter laws particularly striking. The proposed ordinance has ignited a broader national conversation about how cities address the issues surrounding homelessness.
The Summit City Council will revisit the proposed ordinance during their meeting on April 22. The future of the measure remains uncertain, and it may be subject to changes based on public feedback and legal scrutiny.
