Cleanup efforts at one of Erie’s largest homeless camps makes new progress
In an effort to prevent future habitation in a location that is unsuitable for living, volunteers took the day to dismantle makeshift structures and remove trash.
"What I see is a tragedy here that people have to live in this type of condition. There's a lot of progress being done here," said Don Boore, Pennsylvania-New Jersey Disaster Relief.
A couple times a week, rescue and recovery organization Erie City Mission does outreach to search homeless encampments around the city.
Saturday afternoon, over 200 volunteers made their way to clean one of Erie's largest encampments, which is a part of their ServErie tour in partnership with the Baptist Resource Network of Pennsylvania and South Jersey.
This is located south of West 12th Street between Liberty and Poplar streets, directly behind the Erie Tool building.
"I think maybe three people started this camp, and it grew to over 30 people over the last year. In the planning process, the camp has been evicted. The police came in and dispersed them, too many issues going on, we have OD's," said Chaplain Rob O'Connell, Erie City Mission.
Chaplain O'Connell said these encampments are more common than most may think referencing a couple located on upper Peach Street being businesses.
He said the organization is working hard to inspire those who are homeless to take advantage of shelters and their resources.
"I pray with them every time before we leave after our visits with them, and my encouragement to them is that I need them to know that god sent us," O'Connell added.
Volunteers we talked to said although they're aware of these types of situations it's one thing to hear about it and a different thing to actually see it.
"I was just kind of surprised," said Rachel Manon, a volunteer. "From now on, I definitely want to try to help more because who wants to live in these situations?"
"These are pieces of people's lives, there are photographs of their children that maybe were taken from them," said Debbie Knowles, volunteer.
Knowles, along with the other volunteers, agree that anyone can be in this situation and it's everyone responsibility to lift each other up.
