Peoria encampment ban pushed back another week due to cold weather [Video]

PEORIA (25News Now) – Homeless encampments in Downtown Peoria are clearing out, but the public camping ordinance imposing penalties on offenders has been pushed back a week.

Meant to start on Monday, Jan. 6, the ban has been delayed for a week because city officials said it is too cold for staff to work outside.

On Sunday, outreach group LULA Peoria helped people from the encampments move into a local motel to get out of the dangerously cold weather. Co-found Kshe Bernard said the group needs donations to keep people safe from the elements.

“We are all donation-based and the community has shown up in the best way,” Bernard said. “We’ve got two, maybe three weeks of funding, but that’s not that long, and people aren’t going to be housed during that time.”

Bernard said the organization has spent over $8,000 so far on getting people inside motel rooms. She said as shelters continue to run …