Two people evicted from New Philadelphia homeless encampment; cleanup begins at site
NEW PHILADELPHIA ‒ Two residents of a homeless encampment near the Tuscarawas River were evicted by police Friday as workers for the City of New Philadelphia began cleanup work at the site.
The two — a man and a woman identified only at Troy and Tonya — walked out of the encampment with all of their belongings piled high on makeshift carts, trudging along a muddy lane that runs through a portion of the site. It was a cold, damp morning, with a few snowflakes flying in the air. The carts were packed with clothing, a portable generator, gas cans, blankets, dog food and knickknacks.
More on encampment: Evicted: New Philadelphia orders residents of homeless encampment to vacate property
The two were assisted in removing their possessions by New Philadelphia police officers. The woman was accompanied by her dog.
It was unclear where they were headed after being evicted.
City workers brought in a dump truck, garbage truck and two front-end loaders to assist with picking up debris and garbage. There was a vast array of items strewn about the site — small children's toys, pieces of metal, burned material and an old oil drum.
Encampment is off of Fourth Street Extension SE
The encampment is on a 6.12-acre tract off of Fourth Street Extension SE, a narrow road leading to the city's sewer plant on the river. The property is owned by CSX Transportation and leased to New Philadelphia. The city uses a portion on Bank Lane as a playground. Another section is used to store excess fill dirt and concrete from construction work.
The site itself is in the midst of a dense thicket of saplings and brush, reached by narrow footpaths. There was no detectable smell at the site.
On Jan. 31, officers with the New Philadelphia Police Department and the Tuscarawas County Sheriff's Office came to post notices warning the encampment's residents to leave the property. The residents were given until March 31 (Easter Sunday) to leave.
Cleanup at the site had been scheduled for April 1 but was delayed because of the weather.
"According to what Safety Director (Greg) Popham and General Services Superintendent (Ray) Grewell told me, it will take at least a week to clean up the area," Mayor Joel Day said. "They said that the encampment was much larger than they expected. Overgrowth will be cut back and removed from the property to improve its visibility and to discourage camping."
Previous residents of shelter
Calvin White, executive director of the shelter in New Philadelphia run by Friends of the Homeless of Tuscarawas County, said his organization has taken supplies to residents of the encampment over the last month.
Both of the people evicted on Friday have been residents of the shelter in the past, he noted. The man stayed for a day or two recently but left of his own accord. The woman had been there awhile back, but it didn't work out.
"It's just sad and frustrating," White said. "It's a congregate shelter. People have to be together."
In addition, the shelter does not take pets. Only service animals are allowed.
New shelter planned
Friends of the Homeless plans to build a new shelter at the site of the current facility, 211 E. High Ave. The new facility will have single rooms, "and that will broaden things a little for people who don't socialize well," he said.
Future plans: Friends of the Homeless to build new shelter at current site in New Philadelphia
The organization participates in a federal program administered by the state of Ohio, Rapid Rehousing. It is designed for people who are homeless or living in the homeless shelter. It will assist them with the first month's rent and deposit on an apartment and has the ability to assist them with rent for up to a year.
There are several homeless encampments in the New Philadelphia area, including one behind Walmart on Bluebell Drive and a couple close to the Tuscarawas River in the vicinity of New Towne Mall. White said he has seen evidence of children living at some of the encampments.
"I don't have a solution for them," he said of the two people evicted.
Reach Jon at 330-364-8415 or at jon.baker@timesreporter.com.
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Cleanup work begins at site of New Philadelphia homeless encampment
