Austin camping ban effective at reducing homelessness?

KTBC:

It's been more than two years since Texas passed a law banning camping targeted at homeless people.

Gov. Greg Abbott signed HB 1925 in 2021.

It makes encampments in public areas unlawful and could cost a person up to $500 in fines.

Since then, the Downtown Austin Alliance said it's seen a change in the number of homeless people.

"The number is down significantly from what it was back then," said Bill Brice, the senior vice president of investor relations for the Downtown Austin Alliance.

The Alliance said in May 2021, it estimated about 800 people were living unsheltered in downtown Austin's public improvement district.

In the fall, the Alliance said the numbers dropped after the city reinstated its camping ban and the state made it illegal.

At the same time, the Heal Initiative launched, which helps homeless people find shelter and housing.

"That really helps put a dent in the number early on," said Brice.

Since then, the alliance said the numbers have stayed in the five hundreds.
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It has been several years since I lived in Austin, but when I did I do not recall seeing people camping on the streets.  In recent years it has become an epidemic.  I suspect it was mostly caused by liberals taking control of the local government.  It took the state government to step in and impose some restrictions on camping in the city.

I get the impression that for some of the campers, homelessness was a choice and not a necessity.

See, also:

Group of homeless people sues Portland, Oregon, over new daytime camping ban