HARRISBURG, Pa. — Columns along the underpass of the Market Street Bridge were covered with signs, as the City of Harrisburg asked people living in a small homeless encampment to leave.
According to a city spokesperson, several nearby businesses, including the Amtrak station, filed complaints with the city about the encampment.
The encampment was described as 'elaborate' and was covered with couches, dressers, and other household furniture. This limited accessibility to the sidewalk and was a fire hazard.
Jessica Niaves said she walks underneath the Market Street Bridge every day on her way to work. She said the encampment bothered numerous people and made some feel unsafe.
“It's become a nuisance and it's become really dirty," said Niaves. "We have so much trash and I think it’s unsafe.”
Mark Henson has stayed in several shelters across Harrisburg and said the Market Street Bridge is not a great place to stay. He said believes the city needs to do whatever it can to take care of those who were displaced.
“People need a place to go, and they need help," said Henson. "And I believe that you never give up on somebody.”
The last person in the encampment was in the process of leaving as of Friday afternoon, according to the City of Harrisburg.
Donald Koch with Bethesda Mission said several emergency shelters in Harrisburg will be open until the end of March. He added that the volunteers at Bethesda Missions are ready to step in to help.
“A lot of times, we’re running close to being full. But if we have availability, we want to be here to help," said Koch.
The City of Harrisburg said they are also looking at addressing another homeless encampment located along Riverfront Park soon.
The city's spokesman said in a statement that Harrisburg is working closely with the Dauphin County Commissioners, Dauphin County Human Services, and Governor Shapiro's office to come up with long-term solutions to address homelessness ahead of the I-83 expansion project.