Mahoning Township wants to have a camping ordinance on the books to dissuade a swell at a nearby encampment.

Board chair Deb McGowan said at Wednesday’s board of supervisors meeting that the township plans to use the prototype camping ordinance from Lehighton Borough.

McGowan said it’s in an attempt “to try to deter what’s going on with the encampment down at the D&L Trail.

“That encampment is growing by leaps and bounds,” McGowan said. “With this camping ordinance, we can post no camping.”

McGowan added, “At least it’s a start.”

Supervisor Carol Etheridge agreed, and stated it was a “really sensitive” issue, adding that homelessness is not a joke.

Just a few miles away, Weissport Borough is weighing solutions to homeless encampments that have resurfaced in its municipality.

The issue of homeless encampments was discussed at last month’s Weissport Borough Council meeting, at which time it was noted that homeless encampments have returned, with several residents asking the borough what can be done about it.

The latest encampment in Weissport is located behind the 200 block of Franklin Street on land owned by the borough and near or on the levee.

Weissport is also looking at enacting a camping ordinance similar to one that Lehighton Borough adopted in June 2024.

In 2024, the area known as Tent City between Lehighton and Weissport near the Lehigh River on land owned by Carbon County was ordered closed by the Carbon County commissioners.