http://wane.com/2014/11/19/city-responds-to-eviction-of-homeless-from-downtown-riverfront/
http://wane.com/2014/11/14/city-evicts-homeless-people-from-riverfront/
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – On Thursday, about a dozen homeless people who were living outside on riverfront property received eviction notices that stated they were violating a city ordinance by staying in a tent on city property, near the river. The notice says they have 24 hours to move, or they could be arrested and have their belongings thrown away.
Just a few days later, city and community leaders held a press conference to kick off Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week. At the event, NewsChannel 15 asked Mayor Tom Henry what he thought about about Thursday’s evictions. He said it was the first he had heard of it.
“I’m going to have to check with our police department to find out truly what caused them to be in a position like this,” Henry said on Monday. “If it was complaint-driven, obviously there were citizens in our community that were concerned, but I’ll need to check in with it more.”
Since then, the city has released a statement on the evictions. The following is the entire statement provided by the City of Fort Wayne on Tuesday:
We are fortunate to be part of a giving and caring community. By working together, we’re experiencing unprecedented momentum. We enjoy strong neighborhoods and an excellent quality of life. We are aware of some concerns that have been expressed about the treatment of homeless individuals in our community. Whenever our Fort Wayne Police Department is requested to intervene in a situation involving the homeless, it’s done in a professional and courteous manner. Our officers provide individuals with information and access to assistance before any action is ever taken. We care about the homeless population and work collaboratively with social service agencies daily to ensure food and shelter are available for those who are seeking help. The City Administration works each day to provide opportunities for all residents in Fort Wayne. Our proactive efforts include participation on the Fort Wayne Area Planning Council on Homelessness, as well as working to secure federal funding to assist with programs that benefit those in need of support. We will continue our commitment to being a City that cares for one another. We encourage all residents of Fort Wayne to do their part to help those struggling with homelessness by volunteering or making a donation to one of our community’s shelters.
The statement opposes how homeless person Tyler Williams told 15 Finds Out he received the eviction notice. Williams said he only received the eviction, no resources, and his tent was broken after being there four months.
“I had already been told by other cops I was allowed to be there,” Williams said.
The next Planning Council on Homelessness meeting is December 15 at 11:30 a.m. in the Citizens Square Omni Room.
Anyone interested in helping out the homeless are invited to participate in some of the following events for Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week:
- A Tour of several of the facilities in Fort Wayne where people can seek shelter and be connected to programs to help move them to self-sufficiency is set for Wednesday, November 19 at noon. This van tour takes starts in the parking lot across from the University of Saint Francis Robert Goldstine Performing Arts Center (former Scottish Rite), 431 W. Berry St.
- The “Real Change” Pop-Up Arts Event is scheduled for Wednesday, November 19 from 5-9 p.m. at Wunderkammer, 3402 Fairfield Ave. The public is encouraged to attend this first-of-its-kind event where people will interact with local artists whose work features the topic of homelessness. Work created by homeless artists will also be exhibited. This event is designed to engage attendees in ongoing conversation about the community and how each individual can do something to address the challenge of homelessness. The event is free, but donations of non-perishable food items are welcome.
- Skip a Lunch, Feed a Bunch is scheduled for Thursday, November 20. On this day, everyone is invited to donate the money they would typically spend on lunch to the Rescue Mission, which provides more than 217,000 meals a year to anyone who needs them.
City evicts homeless people from downtown riverfront
Do you agree with the city’s decision to evict?
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Eighteen-year-old Tyler Williams struggled to carry a couple suitcases, a blue tarp, and a backpack over the old Wells Street Bridge Friday afternoon. He’s preparing to move, after the Fort Wayne police notified him, and several others, that they can’t stay where they’ve been living: outside on riverfront property.
About a dozen homeless people received notices Thursday night (pictured to the right) saying that they are violating a city ordinance by staying in a tent on city property, near the river. The notice says they have 24 hours to move, or they could be arrested and have their belongings thrown away.
Williams, 18, told NewsChannel 15 he’s originally from Indianapolis. But when he turned 18, he said he got in a fight with his parents, who then paid for him to be dropped off in Fort Wayne. Williams said he’s been staying in a tent near the Harrison Street Bridge for four months with no issues, until now.
“It kind of makes sense they don’t want to have the homeless setting up tents and stuff in the downtown area. It deters people from coming and visiting,” Williams said. “But it also makes it harder on the homeless because every access to food and shelter and other things is downtown. So for them to push us towards the outer city, that forces us to have less access to food and things that can keep us alive and working on getting what we need to get off the streets.”
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Fort Wayne Police Department spokesperson Michael Joyner said the notices are an attempt to not only enforce the ordinance, but also point the homeless toward shelters. “We’re being as compassionate as we can. We’re assisting them in any way we can. We’re providing them information to seek shelter and services that they might need,” he said. “If nothing else, it’s going to get down in the 20′s tonight. I would like to think that the police department is operating in the interest of their safety.”
Joyner said the evictions stemmed from a complaint. Notices were only given to homeless who were staying in park areas near the river. The city doesn’t have jurisdiction under bridges, so the eviction notices were not given there…even though homeless people regularly stay under the Wells Street Bridge.
However, an independent homeless advocate, Taylor Crane, thinks the city is criminalizing the homeless. “Where are these people going to go? The people who got these notices yesterday, yeah they moved their campsite. But they moved it to another location. They’re just going to get another one. It’s not a resolution,” Crane said. “It’s just sort of a band-aid for the city not to have to look at that.”
CEO of the Rescue Mission Donovan Coley doesn’t think anyone should be living outside, but said eviction notices and threatening arrests is the wrong way to work toward a solution.
“I’m disappointed in that it takes executing or delivering citations for many in our city to respond to the needs. These folks have been living under the bridge and on the streets… I’ve known persons who have been doing that for over 25 years,” Coley said. He thinks city leaders should develop a comprehensive plan to tackle the issue.
“We talk a lot about economic development. But I’m going to be a stuck record and say that human development must be a priority for the Henry administration and for those in our county government as well.”
In August, Coley first told 15 Finds Out about his concerns for the future of the homeless in a revitalizing downtown.
Coley said the Rescue Mission and Charis House are making accommodations to house the evictees and others staying outside, even if they don’t meet zero tolerance drug and alcohol rules at the shelter.
In the meantime, Williams and his friends have moved to a different outdoor location — hoping someone doesn’t complain and get them evicted from city property, again.
“Me and my buddies are moving over to a new spot where, actually, the parks and rec people told us was a good place to go because they won’t bother us,” Williams said.
An evictee shared the notification with NewsChannel 15 which reads:
It is hereby posted that the items contained here are a violation of Fort Wayne City Ordinance.
97.15—Park is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. only
97.17—Littering
97.18 Damaging property, Erecting Tents/ Structures
97.20—Fastening items to trees
97.21—Alcohol not permitted
97.28—No fires
97.29 Personal property or equipment brought in to parks are at own risk.
97.17—Littering
97.18 Damaging property, Erecting Tents/ Structures
97.20—Fastening items to trees
97.21—Alcohol not permitted
97.28—No fires
97.29 Personal property or equipment brought in to parks are at own risk.
You have 24 hours to comply and remove all items. As of 11/14/14 at 12:00 p.m. you are subject to arrest for any of the above listed ordnance and any remaining items will be removed and discarded.
Fort Wayne Police Department
