As winter approaches, Peoria’s public camping ban is being enforced

PEORIA, Ill. (25 News) – Winter is on its way, and there’s no motel project to mitigate the effects of Peoria’s public camping ban.

Last winter, LULA Peoria helped the homeless community stay out of the cold by hosting them in a Peoria motel. They received financial support from the city for the effort. But now, American Rescue Plan Acts funds the city used to address the homelessness problem are gone.

LULA co-founder Kshe Bernard tells 25 News there’s no winter plan for people experiencing chronic homelessness, and the city’s public camping ban is being enforced.

At one point, the people LULA works with moved four camps in seven days.

“Typically around this time is when we look to start winterizing tents, but if our people have to break down and move around all the time, we can’t even