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State asks court to remove dwellers in homeless camps

5:10 PM Thu, Aug 06, 2009 |
Linda Borg    Email

homelesscamp_notice.jpg
Providence Journal photo / Kris Craig
Signs have been posted notifying campers on state property that a hearing will be held Friday on the state's request they should not be able to live there.


PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The state has filed a motion in Superior Court to remove squatters from the two camps of homeless people located on either side of the Providence River.

The court motion was delivered to the encampments Thursday afternoon at the same time that outreach workers arrived to offer their assistance to the squatters, who are located under a former Route 195 overpass on the west side of the river and under the Washington Bridge in East Providence.

The state claims that the camps are unsuitable for human habitation because they lack clean water, sanitary facilties and waste disposal services. The motion, which seeks a preliminary injunction against the homeless, says that the squatters are trespassing on state property.

Both camps are situated on land owned by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation.

The motion was been filed by the state Department of Administration and the state Department of Transportation. There will be a hearing Friday at 11 a.m. in Superior Court in Providence.

The defendants are identified as John and Jane Doe, or "persons whose identities are currently unknown to the plaintiff."

Last month, the DOT told camp dwellers that they needed to leave by August. At the time, DOT Director Michael Lewis said that his agency didn't want to take a heavy- handed approach to the homeless. He said, "We're working to get our hands around this in a compassionate way."

Only 13 people remain in Hope City on the west side of the river but the camp on the other side has blossomed to several dozen people.

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Comments

Captain said:

Just bus them to Boston like we used to do.



me said:

What are these people doing, out robbing stealing and hurting anyone? No!! they arent doing anything but looking for a place to sleep ..
Im sure most of them had places to live and the landlords they were renting from probably didnt pay the mortgages and the tenants got thrown out ... Arent their children at these so called camps? The people that want them out are a disgrace and should see what its like the wear the shoe on the other foot!! thank god my family hasnt been affected bye this economy , were making ends meet.. Leave those poor families alone!



cwa said:

Sounds like RI. Carcieri closes a bunch of shelters (even after being told it would leave a deficit in beds for the homeless) and then kicks to the curb the people that were displaced.



Horrified said:

State to homeless people: Go away and die.

What else would one expect from our governor? Compassion?



joe said:

LET THEM STAY!

SHELTER IS A HUMAN RIGHT!



kenyonfoe said:

Shelter is a privelege, earned by work. It is not--and never has been--recognized as a right. These people are there due to their bad decision-making throughout their lives.



JC said:

The only thing worse than being homeless is having to be homeless in Rhode Island. Talk about depressing. If I were homeless I would go to Florida or California. At least you know that you won't freeze in the winter. Rhode Island should put all the homeless on a bus to Miami.



fran said:

It must be tough being homeless, and I would NEVER allow myself to fall into that scenario. I would work any job that paid anything to stay of the street. It's amazing to me, when I look at the pictures and watch the video that the equipment they have is better than the camping equipment I have, and it seems they have plenty of money for smokes and drinks, and I've heard that they also have other substances in the camp that are even more costly. They have to adjust their priorities and quit thinking that they have a right to plant themselves anywhere they darn please. Get a job, get a life, and quit crying...



dee said:

I said it before and I will say it again, the federal government subsidizes the states by population. I bet when the census takers start coming around, they will count each and everyone of those homeless people so they will get the federal funding therefore the state of RI and all other states have an obligation to assist these people. For those of you with the negative comments, it could be YOU or one of your loved ones in the same situation...



martinha said:

everyone want's homelessenss to go away.

I'm trying to help end it. In a good positive environment. Other than just shelter.
Yes, these people have issues.
RI government does not do much about it.
It's usually at the bottom of priority list.

They take these drugs and other habits to stay alive and not cope.
we can help them get out of it.

Anyone willing to help me?
send me an email.
Thanks.




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