DENVER (CBS4) – Denver’s proposed camping ban is now heading to the full city council. On Tuesday a council committee heard testimony on the ordinance.

A growing coalition of business owners say a camping ban is needed to stop homeless people from sleeping on sidewalks and scaring away people from going downtown.

Critics say the bill effectively makes homelessness a crime and homeless advocates are concerned that if the plan passes, there won’t be enough shelter space.

“The problem is every single night of the year, whether overflow programs are in place or not, winter or summer, the shelter beds, 158 of them in Denver, are full — every night,” Terrell Curtis with the Delores Project said.

The proposal will be heard in front of the full council next Monday for its first reading.