PORT ARTHUR, Texas — On Tuesday night, Port Arthur City Council members discussed policies for homeless encampments in the city.
This comes after a recent supreme court ruling that gives cities the right to fine people who are found camping or sleeping on public or private property.
Mayor Thurman Bartie originally established the Port Arthur Homeless Coalition in 2022, but he told 12News in March the program was "not functioning."
At Tuesday's council meeting, the mayor announced plans to reform the coalition.
Council members Thomas Kinlaw and Mayor Pro Tem Doneane Beckcom asked for the item to be added to Tuesday's agenda. They were concerned about the growing number of homeless encampments throughout the city.
Bartie and the rest of the council appeared to support revitalizing the homeless coalition.
Kinlaw says he's confident the council will re-establish the desperately-needed coalition to give those experiencing homelessness in Port Arthur, somewhere to turn.
"Our hope is to get individuals in the community, churches, industries, foundations, to get on board. And address the needs in the homeless population. It takes funding. It takes support to address all of those things," Kinlaw said.
The city council wants to appoint and/or reappoint members to the Port Arthur Coalition For Homeless Advisory Board.
Tuesday was just a discussion so no votes were taken. As of 10:02 p.m., the meeting was still going on at the time this article was written.
We'll continue to keep you updated on the coalition when we receive more information.