Housing (Homelessness)

Mississippi's SB 2296, the Safe Parks and Public Spaces Act, prohibits public camping on non-designated public property (like parks and sidewalks) except for temporary homeless encampments. It makes unauthorized camping a misdemeanor punishable by fines up to $100 (with first offenses requiring referral to homeless shelters), and requires counties/municipalities to enforce this ban to receive state homelessness funding. Counties failing to enforce the law risk losing a pro-rata share of state homelessness funds, and residents or businesses can sue non-compliant local governments to compel enforcement. The bill directly affects homeless individuals camping in public spaces and local governments managing homelessness services.

Mississippi's SB 2330 proposes to prohibit camping, panhandling, and loitering on public and private property statewide, with limited exceptions like designated camping areas or permits. It allows local governments to create permitting programs for homeless camping on private property under strict conditions (e.g., no feasible alternatives, waste management plans) and requires 48 hours' notice before enforcement. Violations would be misdemeanors (not appearing on public records) and encampments could be removed humanely after 72 hours' notice. The bill died in committee in February 2025 and was never enacted.

This bill prohibits sleeping, sitting, or storing personal items on public streets or sidewalks within 1,000 feet of schools, parks, hospitals, or critical infrastructure (like bridges or power lines). It classifies such encampments as public nuisances on public property and requires local authorities to provide 48 hours' written notice before enforcement, including information about shelter services. For private property, the bill adds homeless encampments to the public nuisance law, allowing property owners to request removal (with humane enforcement) and imposing cleanup costs as a lien on the property. Violations on public property may be charged as misdemeanors punishable by fines up to $5,000 or six months in jail.