DEKALB COUNTY, GA — DeKalb County’s CEO is calling for a pause after county commissioners passed an ordinance targeting people experiencing homelessness who sleep on public property.

Citing public safety concerns, five commissioners voted in favor of the measure, which criminalizes sleeping in public spaces.

Commissioner Ted Terry voted against it.

“The board approved this law without any SOPs and without any process or procedures,” Terry said. “Just a blanket 24-hour notice and then its unlawful.”

Terry hopes the CEO’s pause will give the county more time to put services in place for people experiencing homelessness.

Without those services, Terry says people could be jailed indefinitely, creating significant costs for the county.