• Meet Our Team
  • Advertise on SCDN
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Contact Us
Wednesday, July 23
Scioto County Daily News
  • Login
  • Register
Subscribe For $1/week
  • Public Safety
    Sheriff night 1

    Stranger on the Porch: Midnight Door Jiggle Lands Minford Woman in Jail 

    body found

    Double Tragedy Strikes Portsmouth as Two Found Dead Just Hours Apart 

    Portsmouth Boy Punches Dog In Stomach

    🐾 DOG DRAMA AT THE POUND! 

    chase police chase

    High-Speed Chase Ends in the Woods — Suspect Now Tied to Another Stolen Car at Speedway 

    Ryan Joseph Miller

    “Didn’t Take the Hint!” – Man Busted After Allegedly Trying to Kick In Door in South Webster 

    Elder Safety

    🚨 “Mom Needs Protection” — West Portsmouth Man Busted for Violating Protective Order Meant to Shield Elderly Mother 

    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

    Busted! 07/22/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

    super mom

    The Gallia Street Incident — One Mom’s Love Shines Through 

    🚨 ‘She Hits Us With Sticks’ — Brave Girls Speak Out About Alleged Abuse 

    Forgotten Firepower: Loaded Gun Left in Rental Car Prompts Police Response 

    🚨 Banned, Busted, and Back Again: Homeless Crisis on Full Display at Local Businesses 

    Suspect arrested

    🎭 Busted on the Tracy Park Stage — Again! Homeless Man Arrested for Trespassing Amid Trash and Tallboys 

    Sheriff night 1

    Busted Before Breakfast! Deputies Catch Underage Duo Out at 4:30 A.M. in Wheelersburg 

    Weed, Whacks & Whoppers: Family Feud Ends in Pot Bust 

    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

    Busted! 07/21/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

    Train 11

    “I’ll Kill You!”: Railroad Workers Threatened by Shirtless Man Near Homeless Camp 

    ppd

    Sports Bra, Suspicion & Summons: 3 A.M. Drama on Old Post Road

    Donald Lee Wood

    Busted, Broke, and Booted: One Man’s No-Good, Very Bad Night 

    Gazebo Showdown! Drunk Cyclist Spits on Cop, Gets a Face Full of Justice 

    Troubled Bad Youth Kids

    “Teen Tantrum Turns Turbulent!” — Unruly Teen Trashes Room After Sleepover Dispute, Taken to Group Home

  • Lawrence County
  • Politics

    Who Will Carry Cathy’s Torch? GOP to Choose Coleman’s Replacement July 29 

    Cathy Coleman

    Commissioners Back Senior Housing Project Championed by Late Commissioner Cathy Coleman 

    “Bad and Quirky” Lucasville House Targeted for Demolition as County Cracks Down on Blighted Properties 

    ‘A Great Addition to Heaven’: Commissioners Honor Cathy Coleman, Reflect on Her Legacy and Who Might Carry It Forward 

    Cathy Coleman

    Scioto County Mourns Commissioner Cathy Coleman 

    🚨TRIAL TWIST! Horton Corruption Case on Ice—For Now 

    Cathy Coleman

    Remembering Scioto County Commissioner Cathy Coleman

    somc 2

    🏥 Scioto County Approves Hospital Tax to Keep Medicaid Dollars Local 

    No Kings

    Scioto Dems Snort at “Well-Funded” No Kings Protest Claim

    Cathy Coleman

    Cathy Coleman Still Fighting: Family Shuts Down Hospice Rumors, Says Recovery Still Underway

    County May Tap Opioid Settlement Funds to Finish MARCS Tower Project 

    Cathy Coleman

    ‘Small Steps, Big Faith’: Commissioner Cathy Coleman Edges Closer to Recovery 

    Cathy Coleman

    ‘Praise God!’: Commissioner Cathy Coleman Shows Remarkable Progress After Harrowing Weeks

    Cathy Coleman

    Cautious Hope and Harsh Realities: New Details Emerge on Commissioner Cathy Coleman’s Condition 

    Scioto County Commissioners Cancel This Week’s Meeting 

    Robert Horton

    Sudden Twist: Horton Court Dates Scrapped Ahead of Trial 

    Cathy Coleman

    ‘A Sign of Hope’: Commissioner Cathy Coleman Shows Small Improvements Amid Ongoing Critical Condition 

    Recorder Gary Jenkins

    Scioto County Recorder Gary Jenkins Unveils New Office Website 

    Staggering 236 Recovery Houses in Area — and the Fight for Reform Faces Pushback 

    Cathy Coleman

    Community Urged to Pray For Cathy Coleman as Family Faces Devastating Update 

  • Feel Good
    A family of two parents and a young boy and girl are playing laser tag with vests and laser blasters in an arena.

    What Activities To Offer at a Family Fun Center

    Shawnee State University SSU

    Shawnee State University Joins New Athletic Conference, Adds Football to Lineup 

    BREAKING: Commissioners Make Shocking Decision—Halloween to Remain on Halloween 

    Escape to the Hills: A Summer Reading List Set in Appalachia 

    Scioto County Champs: Lady Trojans and Word Wizards Bring Home the Gold 

    “I Held Those Keys Tight” — One Man’s Harrowing Journey from Addiction to Hope 

    Three girls in quinceañera dresses stand beside one another. The one in middle has a gold dress while the other two wear pink.

    Tips for Selecting the Color of a Quinceañera Dress

    The Day the Streak Ended: Lakers’ 1987 Record Broken

    An angler standing at the edge of a lake just after sunset with three fishing rods resting on the ground next to him.

    Night Fishing: Who Is It for and How Do You Start?

    good cops

    Cops Rescue Lost Man 

    good cops

    Kid Misses Bus, Deputy to the Rescue 

    A group of people stands outside with their arms in the air. They hold their hands together, making a pyramid shape.

    Hidden Gems: Community Strategies for Mental Wellness

    good cops

    Man Says He’s Trapped in Armory 

    Good Samaritan 2

    Good Neighbor and Officer to the Rescue 

    Portsmouth Flood Wall Stars

    Meet the New Flood Wall Stars! 

    A bearded man is sitting on the floor and comforting his dog in a wheelchair. The dog has his ears pinned back.

    Training Tips To Help Your Dog Get Used to Their Wheelchair

    U.S. housing market

    Tips for Making Your New House Feel Like a Home

    The Best Freshwater Fish To Catch This Summer

    The Best Freshwater Fish To Catch This Summer

    A man approaching the bowling lane with a red bowling ball as his three friends in the background cheer him on.

    How Bowling Can Improve Your Mental Health

    good cops

    Lost Kid Calls Cops for Help 

  • Obituaries

    Gary Lee Meade,70 of West Portsmouth

    Lilly Ann Elliott

    Lilly Ann Elliott, 53 of Portsmouth

    James D. Hannah

    James D. Hannah, 60 of Greenup

    obit-infant-small

    Bristol Rafalowski, 3, of Wheelersburg

    Walter Logan

    Walter Logan 56 of Portsmouth

    Paul H. Parker

    Paul H. Parker 85 of Portsmouth

    Ralph Burton Speck

    Ralph Burton Speck, 90 of West Portsmouth

    Barbara Williams

    Betty Lou Little Mullins, 91 of Franklin Furnace

    Shirley Ann Wheeler

    Shirley Ann Wheeler, 88, of Minford

    Betty Lou Ratliff

    Betty Lou Ratliff, 82 of South Shore

    Katherine Kay Bates

    Katherine Kay Bates, 76, formerly of Sciotoville

    Carl D. Cook

    Carl D. “Pork” Cook, 64 of South Webster

    Rachele Lynne McLaughlin, 44 of Minford

    Carol Lorraine Schmid

    Carol Lorraine (Meenach) Schmid 88 of Wheelersburg

    Darrell Kevin Lore

    Darrell Kevin Lore, age 69 of Portsmouth

    Helen Waughtel

    Helen F. Waughtel, 84 of Portsmouth

    Victoria Jane Lucas

    Victoria Jane Lucas, 73 of Portsmouth

    Wayne Pace

    Wayne Franklin Pace, 43 of Wheelersburg

    Yani Marcellus White

    Yani Marcellus White, 28 of Portsmouth

    Wade Donahue III

    Wade Donahue III, 74 of Columbus

  • More News
    • All News
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Education
    • Economy
    • Food & Drinks
    • Local Business
    • National
    • Opinion
    • Regional
    • Strange But True
    • Trending
No Result
View All Result
Scioto County Daily News
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Register
Scioto County Daily News
No Result
View All Result

Portsmouth’s Homeless Left to Suffer as City Council Puts Off Solutions

Ross Madison by Ross Madison
6 months ago
in Public Safety
ShareTweetEmail

Listen to the article.

https://scioto.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ElevenLabs_2025-01-31T22_44_21_David-Hertel_pvc_s85_sb85_se50_b_m2.mp3

In a December meeting of the Portsmouth City Council, officials debated an amendment to Codified Ordinances 753.21, which would prohibit the use of tents for habitation within city limits. Despite lengthy discussions about public health and safety concerns, the council ultimately voted to take no action—effectively leaving the situation unchanged as winter’s deep freeze gripped the region, forcing the homeless to endure dangerous, subfreezing conditions without any additional aid (aside from random warming station days and times).

City Manager Sutherland explained that the proposed amendment stemmed from increasing issues with debris and waste left behind as unhoused individuals moved from place to place. He cited an effort two summers ago in which the city removed 600 tons of trash from an encampment under a viaduct. While emphasizing that the city was not seeking to criminalize homelessness, he noted that officials were attempting to manage the public health and sanitation concerns caused by makeshift encampments.

The mayor described a situation on Fourth Street where a tent had been set up in a residential backyard. The occupants, she said, lacked access to running water and had resorted to using a five-gallon bucket as a toilet, dumping the waste into a nearby alley. Concerned neighbors reported unsanitary conditions and foul odors, raising fears about the spread of disease.

RELATED POSTS

Who Will Carry Cathy’s Torch? GOP to Choose Coleman’s Replacement July 29 

Double Tragedy Strikes Portsmouth as Two Found Dead Just Hours Apart 

🐶Thinking of Adopting a Shelter Dog? Remember the 3-3-3 Rule Before You Panic! 

Council members debated the issue, with some arguing that a nuisance definition was necessary to distinguish between minor inconveniences—such as loud noise—and serious health hazards, like human waste accumulation. Others opposed waiving the three-reading rule, insisting more time was needed to assess the full impact of the amendment.

Code Enforcement Officer Gedeon supported a careful approach, suggesting that the ordinance include language specifying that tents could not create nuisance conditions rather than banning them outright. He also emphasized the importance of offering mental health and addiction treatment resources to unhoused individuals rather than simply displacing them.

Please Support This Local Business

The city has already taken action in some instances. Gedeon described past experiences where he worked with individuals to find stable housing. However, he also warned that some encampments posed serious risks, including fire hazards under the Young Street viaduct, which had caught fire multiple times due to unsafe conditions.

Other council members pointed out that a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling determined that cities could ban sleeping on public property. However, some officials expressed hesitancy about implementing a blanket prohibition without viable alternatives for the displaced individuals.

The mayor proposed a possible alternative: a sanctioned tent city where social workers, job placement programs, and healthcare providers could locate and assist those in need. She noted that this concept has been successful in other cities. Several council members, including Spears, who has been working to connect unhoused individuals with resources, supported the idea of exploring alternative solutions, such as a “housing first” model or tiny home villages.

Ultimately, the council voted 5-0 in favor of taking no immediate action, choosing to table the proposal for further discussion in the new year. But in doing so, they have left the homeless population to continue suffering in subzero temperatures without any additional support. While council members ponder the issue from the comfort of their homes, the hands of law enforcement remain tied, unable to enforce laws or offer solutions. The inaction has only compounded the problem, leaving Portsmouth’s most vulnerable residents without shelter or assistance in the year’s harshest conditions.

Tags: FeaturedNewsletterPortsmouth City CouncilPortsmouth Ohio
Please Support This Local Business
Please login to join discussion

TRENDING NOW

SCDN File Photo

Poolside Tragedy in Wheelersburg: Toddler Rushed to Hospital  

July 19, 2025
Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

Busted! 07/18/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

July 18, 2025

Mayor Call Cops on Fired Police Chief After Missed Deadline

July 19, 2025

Rachele Lynne McLaughlin, 44 of Minford

July 19, 2025
Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

Busted! 07/17/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

July 17, 2025

ABOUT US

We are a grassroots team of local journalists on a mission to give our community up-to-the-second news and events for Southern Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and Western West Virginia. We believe progress inspires change and we believe our reporting has become the front-lines of Portsmouth, Ohio's comeback.

CATEGORIES

  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Casino
  • Economy
  • Education
  • Feel Good
  • Food & Drink
  • Local Business
  • National
  • Obituaries
  • Ohio
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Public Safety
  • Regional
  • Strange But True
  • Video

AREAS SERVED

  • Portsmouth
  • Wheelersburg
  • Minford
  • Waverly
  • Friendship
  • Ironton
  • West Union
  • Piketon
  • Coal Grove
  • South Point
  • Vanceburg
  • Grayson
  • South Shore
  • Greenup
  • Raceland
  • Ashland

SITE SEARCH

No Result
View All Result
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service

© 2025 Scioto County Daily News. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Home
  • Trending
  • Public Safety
  • Lawrence County
  • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Feel Good
  • All News
  • About Us
    • Meet Our Team
    • FAQ
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise on SCDN
  • Legal
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Service

© 2025 Scioto County Daily News. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Home
  • Trending
  • Public Safety
  • Lawrence County
  • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Feel Good
  • All News
  • About Us
    • Meet Our Team
    • FAQ
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise on SCDN
  • Legal
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Service

© 2025 Scioto County Daily News. All Rights Reserved.