ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando police confirmed Wednesday that its officers helped clear a homeless encampment that News 6 had visited Monday.
“After receiving complaints of criminal activity in the area, the owner of the private property signed a trespass warning authorization for individuals to be removed from their property,” a spokesperson for Orlando police said in a response to a request for comment.
News 6 initially reached out to Mayor Buddy Dyer’s office and Orlando police Monday, after reviewing a violation notice issued for the property where the encampment was located.
The notice indicated violations of “improper storage” and “trash and debris.” It instructed those on the property to remove boxes, paper, scattered litter, building materials, and tents.
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The notice was dated April 10. Although it granted 15 days to remedy the violations, people at the encampment told News 6 Monday they were informed by city officials they had to vacate the area by Tuesday.
When News 6 returned Wednesday, we spotted many belongings, including tents, but very few people.
“There’s not much life in the camp,” said Erick Louis, an advocate who works to assist those experiencing homelessness. “There used to be music playing.”
Louis and Lamia Moukaddam co-founded CHXNGE, a harm-reduction non-profit organization. They frequently visit the encampment to provide people with resources.
“Being removed from such a central location like this camp forces people to be segmented into different areas,” Moukaddam said. “Which makes it that much more difficult for them to be able to acquire any type of resources.”
OPD told News 6 that its officers worked with Code Enforcement to clear the area.
“OPD directs people who are homeless to shelters and other support services, not to unauthorized encampments,” the statement concluded.
Louis scoffed at the statement, arguing that shelters in the region are at capacity.
“The city had a solution: the SODO shelter,” he said, referring to recently scrapped plans to convert the old Orange County Work Release Center into a homeless shelter. “As of today, they still haven’t recommitted to plans for a brick-and-mortar shelter location.”
As of Wednesday night, News 6 was still working to reach the correct point of contact for the owner of the property where the encampment was located. News 6 also asked OPD to provide more details on the alleged criminal activity that precipitated these actions.
