The City of Amarillo is appearing to be aiming to close down the Christ Church Camp of New Beginnings sometime this week, activists close to the camp say.
Last week, the Christ Church Camp of New Beginnings announced that the City of Amarillo had told the camp that an ordinance from the Amarillo Municipal Code would force the camp's shutdown. Those with the camp say that if the camp is not closed, those responsible for the camp will be fined $2,000 daily.
Kip Billups, vice president of the Christ Church Camp and one of the Amarilloans who are assisting those at the camp, says that the move by the City of Amarillo to close the camp is an example of officials targeting Amarillo's homeless population.
"The City of Amarillo is criminalizing homelessness," Billups said in regards to the camp's closing.
Following the announcement, the City of Amarillo held an outreach event at the camp on Monday. Representatives from various local non-profits and agencies were in attendance to assist those at the camp with various initiatives.
According to Billups, officials told volunteers that the camp must be closed down by March 1st or penalties would begin.
For more information about the Christ Church Camp, please visit https://www.facebook.com/campchristchurch/.
