Authorities order homeless to clean up south Omaha camp

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - A city councilman called it one of the worst homeless camps he's ever seen in Omaha. An exclusive 6 News investigation Monday night revealed it, and it caught the attention of law enforcement.

The "CAT" in this alley is the sheriff's Community Action Team , and deputies find two men sitting in the middle of a homeless camp, so they issue them tickets.

"This mess right here is on public property and that's considered littering," a deputy said.

The men will have to make a court appearance where they may be asked what they've done to clean up the mess. The homeless camp isn't just in an alley, but homemade shanties have encroached in the backyards of two Omaha homeowners who say strangers often walk through their property.

The deputies told the homeless men they don't have to vacate the alley, but will have to clean it up, and if they venture up into the neighbors' yards, that's a different story and they could be arrested for trespassing.

Sgt. Jeremy Welsch pointed out one of several paths leading up and through the property.

"We're going to work with the homeowners up the hill to ensure that if they are the victim of trespassing, that we follow up and take appropriate action," Welsch said.

One of those homeowners is Maria, who preferred that 6 News omit her last name. She's grateful the sheriff's CAT is providing a sign and response to enforce it.

"At least it helps catch them and maybe signs like can deter them a bit," Maria said.

Deputies don't have to be present to watch over homeowners' yards for trespassers. They have a remote camera that have already led to arrests in other parts of the city and county.

"This is a live camera and we can view it anytime from a computer or from a cell phone and we can find out what's going on when we're not there," said DCSO Deputy Tony Incontro.

Though placing the camera overlooking the homeless camp and path leading from it now deputies will move the camera around with a cable and lock to prevent equipment from joining so many other things collected by the homeless.

On Monday, 6 News reported how homeowners have been told by the city they are responsible for cleaning up junk that homeless people have left in their backyards and adjacent alley. But after 6 News' story, it appears that order will be set aside.

Tuesday, the mayor's office told 6 News a contractor specializing in homeless camp cleanup is giving the city a bid to take care of the mess in the alley and the homeowners' backyards. Possibly by the end of the week. Councilman Ron Hug says Omaha Police and Omaha Public Works will also be involved to keep the camp from returning.