September 2025: Harding Introduced A Controversial Proposal In The Omaha City Council To Penalize Unhoused People In Omaha With A Fine Or Jail Time If They Were Found Camping On Public Property. According to KETV (ABC), "Omaha City Councilmember Brinker Harding says he introduced an ordinance on homeless encampments because it seems more and more are popping up. […] As it stands now, the ordinance he proposed would ban camping on public property and penalize it with a fine of up to $300, up to 30 days in jail, or both. […] The proposal has received opposition from the community in letters to the council. The chair of the City of Omaha Human Rights and Relations Board called it a ‘short-term solution that will only make matters worse.’ The senior pastor at a North Omaha church wrote, ‘Being unhoused is not a crime. It's a policy failure.’" [KETV (ABC), 9/9/25]
Homelessness Expert On Harding’s Proposal: “Criminalizing Homelessness In Omaha Undermines Data-Informed Strategies.” According to KETV (ABC), "KETV spoke with Jason Feldhaus, the director of the nonprofit Threshold COC, for his thoughts. Threshold serves as an umbrella organization for several who work in the homelessness space. ‘We do think this is a really good opportunity to have a conversation with the city and the community,’ Feldhaus said. Threshold produced a document after Harding’s proposal. ‘Criminalizing homelessness in Omaha undermines data-informed strategies,’ the document says. […] The document notes a reduction in the count of unsheltered people in the metro, based on a count every January, for the first time in three years. Harding told KETV he has met with the mayor's office and is open to feedback. He said he's set to meet with nonprofits soon." [KETV (ABC), 9/9/25]
The Public Meeting On Harding’s Proposal Was “Heated” And Two Men Were Thrown Out. According to WOWT, “Councilman Brinker Harding says he introduced his ordinance, calling this a public safety and public health issue that needs to be addressed immediately. ‘Not only for the people in the encampments, but also for the neighbors and businesses who live around this. Look, there’s prostitution going on in there, there’s sex trafficking going on in there, there’s drug use, there’s human waste, that’s not acceptable,’ Harding said. ‘And they’re saying that they’re going to take a look at this for the next six months. And try to do something in seven to ten days? That’s seven to ten days too long.’ Harding says the reason for potential fines, up to $300, is not to criminalize homelessness, but to allow the homeless to have legal representation. […] The City Council meeting got heated at times. Two men were thrown out for disruption.” [WOWT, 9/23/25]
Harding Defended His Proposal, Saying The Unhoused Population In Omaha Was An Issue Because “There’s Prostitution Going On In There, There’s Sex Trafficking Going On In There, There’s Drug Use, There’s Human Waste, That’s Not Acceptable.” According to WOWT, "Councilman Brinker Harding says he introduced his ordinance, calling this a public safety and public health issue that needs to be addressed immediately. ‘Not only for the people in the encampments, but also for the neighbors and businesses who live around this. Look, there’s prostitution going on in there, there’s sex trafficking going on in there, there’s drug use, there’s human waste, that’s not acceptable,’ Harding said. ‘And they’re saying that they’re going to take a look at this for the next six months. And try to do something in seven to ten days? That’s seven to ten days too long.’" [WOWT, 9/23/25]