City residents shared public comments at Harrisburg City Council meeting.
At a City Council meeting on Tuesday, residents shared concerns related to the ways that the city has recently addressed homelessness.
Harrisburg community members spoke during public comment about their opposition to the city’s notice that those living in Riverfront Park must move.
Around a week ago, the city notified the public that people would need to remove their belongings from the park, stating that there had been an increase in homeless encampments along the river. According to Communications Director Matt Maisel, the increase has caused a sanitation issue and noted that leaving belongings in the park violates city code.
The city has not yet set a deadline for when people must move by and is encouraging them to take advantage of several winter overnight shelters in the city, which opened on Dec. 1.
At the council meeting, residents shared frustrations with what they saw as the latest attempt to move occupants of encampments in the city in the past year.
“It’s disgusting, displacing the most vulnerable people in our community for the third time,” said Jonathan Dunkleburger, a community member. “It always seems to happen during the coldest months.”
In January, Harrisburg evicted occupants of a large, long-time encampment under the Mulberry Street Bridge, and dispersed people from an encampment along the Capital Area Greenbelt trail in June.
“We know the city doesn’t have a plan,” said Harrisburg resident Brandon Basom. “They keep acting like this is a new problem.”
However, earlier in the meeting, when asked about the issue by members of council, Mayor Wanda Williams said that the city is responding to the needs of the homeless.
“I know a lot of people are concerned about us moving them, but we have to,” she said. “We do try to take care of them. We are trying to work with them, but they have to want to work with us. We are doing everything we possibly can.”
One of the people who spoke during public comment shared that the group has received 150 signatures on a list of demands that was shared with council. The demands include asking the city to provide portable toilets, hand washing stations and disposal containers, among other resources to those living on the riverfront.
Council members and residents repeatedly asked if the city had a larger, long-term plan to address homelessness. According to Williams, the city is working with the Capital Area Coalition on Homelessness (CACH) on plans.
“We would like to know what she [Williams] plans to do for this year,” said resident Kelsey White.
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