City Council postpones ordinance banning unauthorized relocation of unhoused individuals

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- The St. Joseph City Council postponed the vote on a new ordinance making it illegal to move homeless or transient persons to St. Joseph without proper authorization.

During the meeting, the council came to a decision to remove the ordinance and to discuss it at a work session.

The bill, sponsored by Councilmember Jason Eslinger, comes after the City, Community Missions and the St. Joseph Police Department entered a partnership to address outdoor encampments.

City officials said they are aware of other cities and communities sending unhoused individuals to St. Joseph, typically by providing one-way bus tickets in an effort to address their own homelessness and transient population issues.

City officials also said they have limited resources when dealing with the homeless population, and resources are strained. The City will now consider it a criminal misdemeanor for anyone outside of St.
Joseph to relocate unhoused and transient individuals to St. Joseph.

For individuals being sent for medical treatment or a court hearing, this law will not apply.

The ordinance reflects two action items in the city’s strategic plan: investing in people and reducing homelessness in the community.

The council approved the vote on a bill to enter a Facility Use Agreement for the use of MoWest's Thomas Eagleton Indoor Pool with Special Olympics Missouri.

Special Olympics Missouri will use the pool after the 2026 high school swim season until the first week of May 2026.

After the 2027 high school swim season, the team will use the pool until the first week of May 2027.