Lehighton is doing its due diligence to combat homelessness that exists in the community.

On a unanimous measure, borough council on Monday agreed to have borough solicitor Jim Nanovic draft a camping ordinance.

Councilwoman Autumn Abelovsky said she believes going forward with a public camping ordinance would be “prudent” for the borough.

Councilman Ryan Saunders said he agreed that it’s important for the borough to take the proper steps.

After the meeting, Abelovsky said her hope is that the encampment ordinance would serve several objectives.

“The purpose of an encampment ordinance is to prevent harm to the health and safety of the public and to promote the public health, safety and general welfare by keeping public streets, sidewalks, parking lots, parks and other public property readily accessible to the public, and to prevent use of public property for camping purposes or storage of personal property which interferes with the rights of others to use the areas for the purposes for which they were intended,” Abelovsky said. “This type of ordinance is intended to give homeless individuals a choice to get assistance so that they no longer have to live in unsafe and unsanitary conditions outdoors.

“In turn, enforcement of these types of ordinances cannot be enforced at any time there is no space or beds available in reasonably accessible homeless shelters, which ultimately puts pressure on the county or municipality to provide such services.”

Council’s action comes shortly after a group of homeless people who live in the encampment along the Lehigh River in Lehighton were told they will eventually have to vacate the premises.

Carbon County Commissioners’ Chairman Michael Sofranko said last week that the sheriff’s department was directed by commissioners to go down by Tent City and do some documentation for what may be offered to those who live there. Tent City is located on county property, but within Lehighton borough limits.

Sofranko said they were given information where they could go for help, and that the county will be posting that property shortly.