Public Safety Officers Respond to Illegal Camping September 08, 2017
On Tuesday, September 5, 2017, public safety personnel responded to a large wooded area West of South 12th Street between Elrod Avenue and Lockhart Avenue at the request of a property owner who wanted assistance in trespassing individuals illegally camping on his property.
Public safety personnel found 23 campsites, some of which were old and abandoned while others were found to be occupied by homeless (individuals from the area) and transients (individuals new to our area). In all, 18 individuals were contacted (five women and 13 men) ranging in age from 18 to 65 years old (average age of just over 36 years of age). Only four of the individuals contacted were new to the area (transients). The others (homeless) had been in the area from anywhere from one and a half years to 23 years (average known residency of the homeless individuals from the area was just over nine years in length).
All of the individuals were advised to pack up their belongings and to leave the area. Information was provided regarding emergency shelters in the area. Officers will be following up early next week to ensure they have moved as directed.
Below are pictures of one campsite, which was full of trash and unsanitary/unhealthy living conditions.
