Homeless camping

City Engineer Josie Esker has authorized spending about $140,000 in contingency funds so far and she anticipates another $210,000 will be needed to replace dilapidated pavement that was discovered.

As the City of Peoria grapples with how to address its unhoused population and discourage people from camping in public locations, Mayor Rita Ali is taking a clear but layered stance.

Advocates for Peoria's unhoused population see a lot of problems with the city's proposal to ban unauthorized encampments on public property.

The City of Peoria is taking steps to restrict homeless encampments on public property, following other communities that have enacted similar bans in recent weeks.

During her time working with the Pekin Police Department, social worker Misti Cave believes they've made strides in assisting the unhoused individuals staying in the handful of camps along the Illinois River.

Most Peoria-area communities do not currently have city ordinances in place similar to those enacted by a rural Oregon city that gained the national spotlight with its crackdown on homelessness. However, they may consider it now.

SRINGFIELD, Ill. - Springfield's mayor wants to keep homeless people from camping at the city's public library. Homeless people find overhangs at the…