CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCE CENTER Read More
Add To Favorites

‘Gut-wrenching’: Rats blamed for Harrisburg’s decision to clear homeless encampment with no formal plans for people

Patriot-News - 1/12/2023

Harrisburg residents living under the Mulberry Street bridge have a week to pack up all of their belongings and leave the area for good because of a “public health emergency” involving rats and growing piles of trash, city officials said.

The situation under the bridge reached a breaking point about two weeks ago, when sanitation workers conducting a twice-weekly cleanup were nearly bitten by large rats jumping out of trash cans and dumpsters, according to Public Works Director Dave West. Workers have not been back to pick up trash in a week as a result.

“It’s a very dangerous and hazardous situation under the Mulberry Street bridge,” he said. “It’s only going to get worse if we don’t do anything about it.”

People living under the bridge have until Thurs., Jan. 19 to vacate the area with all of their belongings. A decision about what to do with people who refuse to leave will be made once the situation arises, according to city spokesman Matt Maisel.

City officials said about 50-65 people live under the bridge, but some of these residents have alternative housing options at their disposal. Those who don’t are being directed to overnight shelters, which have not yet hit full capacity this winter. Residents are allowed to stay at the overnight shelters from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Some daytime services are also available, but there is not a planned area for people to store their belongings after they are removed from under the bridge. City officials are asking residents to pack their belongings in a way that their most important items can be transported.

“We dedicate an enormous amount of time, energy and resources to serving this population and we’re all really struggling with this decision,” said Randie Yeager, of the Capitol Area Coalition on Homelessness.

West said a deep-clean and sanitation of the area under the bridge will start as soon as residents have dispersed. This process is expected to take 24–48 hours.

Maisel said the decision to force residents out from under the bridge was “gut-wrenching” to make, but had to be done to protect the health of the homeless population and the city’s other residents.

“We want to stress this is the absolutely last thing anyone wants to do. These are decisions that affect peoples’ lives,” Maisel said. “However, we’re dealing with a public health emergency.”

Residents will not be allowed to return to the Mulberry Street bridge area once it has been cleaned. Maisel said police will be patrolling the area after the deep-clean to enforce the new rules.

“We hope that people will follow the order,” he said. “The simple fact of the matter is perhaps they won’t.”

It is unclear if the Mulberry Street bridge residents will migrate to the encampment near the PennDOT building off Front Street.

“All of our encampments have to be safe for everyone involved,” Yeager said.

An uptick in residents seeking shelter has created the city’s largest homeless population in years, Yeager said. She said the soaring cost of rent is a “significant barrier.”

City officials said Mayor Wanda Williams is working with City Council and the law bureau to try to pass legislation that will create additional affordable housing options in Harrisburg.

Maisel said the city has also had preliminary discussions about a “semi-permanent solution” for where Mulberry Street bridge residents can go. Additional details on these discussions were not immediately available.

READ: As demand for winter shelter grows, advocates and homeless people point to tight housing market

‘Just a beautiful soul’: Harrisburg crash took homeless woman’s dreams for a stable life

Slain Harrisburg homeless woman faced rough life with optimism and generosity, friends say

©2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit pennlive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.