LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The city plans to clear two more homeless camps in the coming weeks.
Eric Friedlander, the director of Resilience and Community Services, said that the city had given notice to dozens living under highway overpasses along Brook Street 21 days to vacate. He cited "health and safety concerns."
The city has closed four other homeless camps this year, and railroad company CSX evacuated a large camp on its property in April. Before its evacuation, multiple people were arrested at the camp.
An officer on scene said those individuals were arrested on warrants, though those who live at the camp said several people were detained and then let go.
"They proceeded to pull everybody out of their tent, put them on the ground," camp resident Matt Osbourne said. "They had lists of peoples names already, they called people's names out they put those people in hand cuffs, they got everybody else's information."
Homeless advocates have pushed for sponsored camps after the clean-outs, saying the situation will only get worse with a lack of shelter beds and low-income housing.
"There is such a sense of powerlessness when we say there is no housing for you but there is also no safe place to tell you to move," Fed with Faith founder Wendy Manganaro said.
Manganaro said she wants Mayor Greg Fischer and council members to look closely at funding trauma care for some of the city's most vulnerable including homeless veterans.
"The fear and the trauma of constantly going, 'I don't know if I can safely stay here tonight.' Or, 'Am I going to get moved out again?' Or, the trauma of what you have to do to live on the streets when the shelters are full," she explained.
Even after beds have been added to places like Wayside Christian Mission, advocates said many shelters are at capacity.
RELATED:
- Amid clear-out, homeless advocates eyeing city budget proposal
- Homeless advocates push for sponsored camps throughout Louisville
- Four arrested at homeless camp ahead of clear-out
- Homeless camp on Baxter Avenue forced to clear out in 10 days
- Homeless camp clear out gets mixed reviews
- Fire destroys homeless tent, volunteers look to new solution
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