S. Ind. city adopts 48-hour homeless sweep notice

JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. (AP) — A southern Indiana city criticized for its periodic removal of homeless camps has decided to post notices alerting the homeless 48 hours before future sweeps.

The Jeffersonville Board of Public Works adopted a resolution Wednesday setting the new policy. The 48-hour notices were recommended by a task force created after a November sweep of a homeless camp drew complaints that no notice was given and that personal property was confiscated.

Task force member Paul Stensrud calls the new policy "a good start."

The News and Tribune and The Courier-Journal of Louisville, Ky., report that the policy also calls for Jeffersonville to hold confiscated items for 30 days before declaring them abandoned property.

During that time the owners can call a phone number listed on the notice to retrieve the items.