Mulberry Street Bridge encampment nearly empty as city eyes site cleanup, rat extermination

January 23, 2023 | by Lawrance Binda

Dennise Hill, Harrisburg’s director of building and housing development, spoke to the press on Monday.

A Harrisburg homeless encampment has been largely vacated, as the city makes plans for a final cleanup of the site.

At a Monday press conference, city officials stated that only about five people, out of about 70 originally, remained beneath the Mulberry Street Bridge.

This followed a 10-day effort to encourage people to relocate after the city said that health and crime problems were forcing them to shut down the encampment.

“Those who remain at the Mulberry Street encampment right now, the city and CACH (Capital Area Coalition on Homelessness) will continue to work with these individuals to get through what is obviously an immensely difficult time,” said Matt Maisel, the city’s communications director. “No arrests will be made. No one will be taken into custody because—and this is very important to note—being homeless is not a crime.”

According to Maisel, some people displaced from the Mulberry Street Bridge site have migrated to the city’s other large homeless encampment, near the PennDOT building and the I-83 bridge in south Harrisburg. Others have gone to shelters and treatment facilities, while a few have been reunited with family.

Maisel said that he didn’t expect some of the problems common in the Mulberry Street Bridge encampment, such as drug sales, to migrate to the large encampment in south Harrisburg because that area is more isolated, better controlled and more difficult to access for criminals.

The city had identified an alternate location farther down Cameron Street for a potential temporary encampment. A few people moved there, but no one has stayed, and the site is currently empty, according to city officials.

In addition, the city estimates that about half of the people beneath the Mulberry Street Bridge on any given day did not reside there, but just frequented the area. A number of those people have been arrested due to outstanding warrants and other criminal charges, Maisel said.

Beginning on Tuesday, the city plans to begin the cleanup process beneath the bridge. The trash removal process will take about 48 hours, Maisel said.

“Once that is complete, an exterminating company will come in and get to work on the rat issue,” he said. “This will take in the neighborhood of about six weeks.”

During the extermination process, no one will be allowed beneath the bridge, due to health concerns, Maisel added. Afterwards, the city can’t force people to stay away, as most of the land underneath the bridge is state-owned, controlled by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, he said.

“PennDOT is aware of what’s going on,” Maisel said. “I believe their official statement is that they’re monitoring the situation.”

Dennise Hill, the city’s director of building and housing development and the president of CACH, said that the city and nonprofits will continue to work with the remaining five occupants to encourage them to leave before the extermination process begins.

She added that camp shut-down has been a delicate, one-on-one process that took into account the needs of each individual.

“It’s not about us pushing people out,” she said. “We are actively working with individuals to find the resource that works best for them.”

These have included shelter facilities, rehabilitation and family reunions, she said. Longer term, the city and the nonprofits want to work together to provide more affordable housing, workforce development and other initiatives to combat homelessness in Harrisburg, she said.

During the press conference, Maisel praised the service organizations for their help in relocating those living beneath the bridge.

“What we’ve seen in the past week and what you’re going to see moving forward, because those conversations have already started, is the city of Harrisburg working in earnest with its valuable nonprofits for the first time in recent history to actually address the issue of homelessness in the city of Harrisburg,” he said.

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“Not Today”: A homeless camp’s remaining occupants struggle to leave, assisted by advocates, the city

January 21, 2023 | by Susan Ryder

The remaining tents, many empty, of the homeless encampment beneath the Mulberry Street Bridge on Friday.

On Friday, as my Toyota Sienna bumped along the road parallel to the Mulberry Street Bridge homeless encampment, I expected to see a flurry of activity, with folks packing up their belongings in tubs and dismantling their tents, just waiting for help to arrive.

It was, after all, the appointed day for folks to evacuate the camp, because the city was arriving on Monday for the clean-out.

Instead, it was quiet, tents blowing and tarps flapping in the cold wind. A few volunteers sat in parked vehicles, ready to begin the move.

Two of those ”boots on the ground” were Christian Churches United’s (CCU) executive director Darrel Reinford, and director of development, Steve Schwartz.

Schwartz, Reinford and I talked about the progress of this crisis, and how the city and local stakeholders, over time, have created a collaboration to help find a solution for those being displaced. A Harrisburg city employee pulled up and joined the conversation.

He offered trucks to help move folks and talked about the new site, next to a bus line, where the city had done some work to accommodate the new arrivals, and that porta-potties would arrive soon.

As I listened to this conversation, what emerged was a picture of the city and local nonprofits working side by side to push this very large rock up a hill—together.

The morning moved slowly, and we didn’t jump into beginning to open tents or giving orders because this was not our neighborhood. That would be like random strangers knocking on my door and telling me what to do. So, we waited and assessed that many of the tents appeared empty, with unzipped doorways.

A makeshift sign hangs over the encampment.

At its peak, the camp had about 75 folks calling it home. When Aisha Mobley, CCU’s community mobilization and outreach coordinator, arrived later in the morning, she explained that only about 10 people were still there. Many had decided to leave on their own, some likely joining the camp by the PennDOT building.

Mobley talked with residents as they began to emerge from their dwellings. Mobley, or Miss Mobley to friends at the camp, is a regular here and helps connect folks with services.

One resident, Kevin, was clearly overwhelmed with the task at hand. He had built a life there, a collection of sneakers in milk crates, couches, a block fire pit, with the bridge acting as a roof over his abode. He looked at the group of us and said, tearing up, “This is my home.”

That is when I realized my naiveté when I arrived. I was looking at this as a task to complete, while some of the folks living there were still trying just to wrap their heads around it.

Shelby, with her happy brindle pit bull, “Tucker,” by her side, was nervous about the new site. She asked lots of questions. Mobley offered a visit to the new location. So, another volunteer, Scott Shank, myself, Shelby and Tucker hopped into my van for a short drive.

What a surreal experience to walk in the wooded area with someone and assess its suitability for living there. Was it hard, soft, muddy, dry? I pondered–would it be better to be low and muddy, but out of the wind, or high and dry but more exposed? Partly, I wondered if there was something terribly wrong with this monologue, and, partly, I accepted that this served as Shelby’s practical reality.

Shelby liked the site, and we were hopeful that she might allow us to help her move, but, when we got to back to the bridge, her response to getting packed was, “Not today.”

Mobley was having better luck with Kevin. He was reluctant and a bit paralyzed with the task of packing all of his belongings. Mobley bargained that, if he would leave today, when lots of help was available, CCU could help him with storage of his things. He agreed.

On the phone, she talked with another resident’s sister, saying that the camp was closing and that CCU would provide a travel voucher for him to return home, which was out of the area, if he was welcome back. He was welcome, so CCU will get him to the bus station and to his family.

Some folks who were still sticking around said that they would be receiving help from families to move later in the day. Over the course of the past week, CCU had been providing tarps, trash bags and plastic bins to those preparing to leave.

I was struck by the idea that those experiencing homelessness are not a monolith, even as they live in a place together and share a similar situation. Just like my suburban neighbors, they have their own ideas, ways of doing things, joys and woes. And they can be helped through this crisis and others likely to come, but as individuals.

Yes, everyone will be evicted from this camp, and anything left behind is destined for the trash heap, but how and exactly when they leave, for better or for worse, was still one decision they could make for themselves.

In 2019, Susan Ryder covered the removal of another homeless encampment nearby. Click here to read that award-winning story, “Out by Sunday.”

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

January 20, 2023 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Volunteers with Harrisburg-based The Belong Collective cleaned up trash under the Mulberry Street Bridge on Monday.

It was a full week of news here in Harrisburg, and as always, we were here to cover it. In case you need to catch up on this week’s happenings, look no further.

“Broker” is playing at Midtown Cinema this month. In our column, find out why our movie reviewer calls the film “beautiful” with “powerful storytelling.”

Freebird Yoga opened recently in Mechanicsburg, offering beginner and advanced classes to students, our magazine story reported. Choosing to take a leap of faith, owner Jessie Davies opened the studio that she had long dreamed about.

As Harrisburg’s Mulberry Street Bridge homeless encampment continues to clear out, due to an eviction notice by the city, local officials, activists and unhoused residents voiced opposition. In our online story, find out more about why many have called the decision “unfair” and “appalling.”

Jessica Jackson was surprised that, when she came to central PA, the area lacked exposure to capoeira. She now teaches the Brazilian dancelike martial art at the Richie School of Dance in Highspire, our magazine story reported.

John Maietta makes history come alive through his engaging presentations held across the region, our magazine story reported. His lectures cover a range of topics, from how the states got their names to deep dives into Islamic art and architecture to the history of the zipper.

The Ken Burns Film Festival is set to take place at Gettysburg College’s Majestic Theater in February, our magazine story reported. This will be the first time that Burns has ever premiered his work in a theater.

“Nocturnal,” a new dance club, will soon open at the former Susquehanna Ale House in downtown Harrisburg, our online story reported. Restaurateur Justin Browning, owner of J.B. Lovedraft’s Micro Pub, hopes the opening of the nightclub will help revitalize the city’s nightlife.

Nonprofits assisted residents in need as they moved out of Harrisburg’s Mulberry Street Bridge encampment this week, our reporting found. The city also extended is eviction deadline from this past Thursday to Monday, at the earliest.

Sara Bozich has a full list of activities for the weekend, including 3^rd in the Burg events. Find out what’s happening, here.

Tanis Monroy took on the position of executive director of Harrisburg’s Broad Street Market a few months ago. In our online story, find out his plans for the market.

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Mulberry Street Bridge encampment continues to clear out as eviction deadline is extended, nonprofits assist

January 19, 2023 | by Maddie Gittens

Encampment under Mulberry Street Bridge in Harrisburg

On a rainy Thursday morning, local organizations conducted their normal weekly outreach to the Mulberry Street Bridge encampment in Harrisburg.

However, the area once full of people living under the bridge was far less crowded as many have moved due to an eviction notice issued by the city.

Last week, Harrisburg officials stated that those residing in the encampment would need to clear out by Thursday, citing health and safety concerns. But they have since extended that deadline because of Thursday’s rainy weather and to allow local nonprofits more time to help transport and assist those in need.

“The city of Harrisburg, in partnership with the Capital Area Coalition on Homelessness (CACH), will be working through the weekend to make sure any encampment resident under the Mulberry Street Bridge has access to a new location,” said Communications Director Matt Maisel in a statement.

According to Maisel, cleaning of the area under the bridge won’t begin until Monday, at the earliest.

The city said it will not disclose where the new relocation area is, for the privacy of the residents who are moving.

Corrie Lingenfelter, interim executive director of Downtown Daily Bread, who was on site on Monday to assist, said that she expects some residents to relocate, while others may seek refuge in rehabilitation centers or shelters.

Volunteers from Christian Churches United of the Tri-County Area (CCU) said they plan to provide bins and suitcases to those who still need to move their possessions.

Staff with the Harrisburg Area YMCA were on site on Thursday as part of their COVID-19 deterrence and mitigation program, through which they tour the state, providing testing and outreach to homeless populations.

During their yearlong project, staff member Metea Sinclair said she has seen other Pennsylvania cities and counties taking similar measures to disperse encampments as they’ve grown in size due to the effects of the pandemic. To her, what’s happening in Harrisburg, seems to be part of a larger trend of clearing encampments.

“It’s been eye-opening,” she said.

For those who want to assist, CCU shared on social media ways for people to volunteer. They said that while they’ve already received interest from many potential volunteers, they could specifically use help from people with pickup trucks or vans to help people move on Friday. They also pointed to a “Harrisburg Unhoused Emergency Assistance Fund” set up by The Foundation for Enhancing Communities that people can donate to.

To donate to the “Harrisburg Unhoused Emergency Assistance Fund,” click here. To volunteer with Christian Churches United of the Tri-County Area, contact Darrel Reinford at 717-230-9550 or [email protected] or Aisha Mobley 717-963-5985 or [email protected].

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Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

January 19, 2023 | by Sara Bozich

Plan your weekend with my weekly list of things to do around Harrisburg and central PA!

What you’ll find:

For something new: Food in SoMa! For this month’s sip @ soma, we feature Chatty Monks Brewing & Fast-Casual Indian-Fusion! Worth noting: Sunday is the last day to see the historic Great Wave featured in Fleeting Pleasures: Japanese Woodblock Prints from the Georgia Museum of Art at Susquehanna Art Museum Things on my agenda this weekend: sip, sip, Wine & Beer event, rest

For your weekend planning

View my local Restaurant Directory or Local Brewery, Winery, & Cidery Directory
See what else you missed on the blog

Below are options for your weekend.

A Look Ahead

1. Join me in SoMa next weekend for Chatty Monks Brewing + Indian casual Pop-up!
2. HU Presents announces spring 2023 lineup

1. The Best Farmers Markets around Harrisburg

1. Submit your events for the Weekend Roundup

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A few months in, new director Tanis Monroy has plans to make the Broad Street Market a “community hub”

January 17, 2023 | by Maddie Gittens

Tanis Monroy

Tanis Monroy was exposed to the ins and outs of running a small business at a young age.

His parents owned a restaurant in Carlisle, where he grew up, giving him an appreciation for local entrepreneurship.

So when he heard that Harrisburg’s Broad Street Market was searching for a new executive director, he jumped at the opportunity to apply.

“I loved the farmers market and being able to get produce or sitting down and having a meal,” Monroy said. “I thought I could bring fresh ideas and a new perspective.”

Monroy started his new position as the market’s day-to-day manager in October, filling the shoes of former director Josh Heilman, who had departed months before.

Monroy admitted there has been a learning curve as he’s taken on new responsibilities, but feels his background has prepared him for the job.

The first-generation American, whose parents immigrated from Guatemala, grew up in Carlisle. As a teen, he got involved with the Amani Festival, a multicultural celebration in Carlisle, and would later serve as chair of the event.

“Seeing other people share my background, but also those from different cultures was really exciting,” he said.

Monroy also co-founded Destination Carlisle, to promote business and tourism in the city, and later held jobs in marketing. Volunteering in the local community also has been important to him and showed him how much he enjoyed interacting with the community.

“Now, the Broad Street Market gives me a chance to do that every day,” he said.

As director, Monroy handles everything from finances to building maintenance to relationships with vendors.

Monroy said that he has an “aggressive goal” for the new year in terms of fundraising and outreach. He wants to make the market more of a “community hub,” and plans to host holiday events, movie nights, festivals and other experiences to bring people to the market.

“It’s going to be a busy year for the market,” he said. “I want people to know the market is here for them.”

As business at the market inches closer to pre-pandemic levels, Monroy hopes people will continue supporting vendors. There are currently 40 vendors with only a few open stands.

“I want to encourage people to support the market and our vendors—they need that support,” he said.

The Broad Street Market is located at 1233 N. 3^rd St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit their website.

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Party Plans: Dance club, speakeasy to open in former downtown Harrisburg bar

January 16, 2023 | by Maddie Gittens

(From left) Justin Browning, owner of Nocturnal and Lovedraft’s, Serena Lawhon, assistant manager of Nocturnal, and Lovedraft’s District Manager Joshua Stambaugh in front of what will be Nocturnal nightclub.

A new place to dance, drink and party is headed to downtown Harrisburg.

The former Susquehanna Ale House on N. 2^nd Street will soon become “Nocturnal,” a dance club with upstairs speakeasy-themed rooms.

Harrisburg restaurateur Justin Browning said that he purchased the building with hopes of revitalizing the city’s nightlife downtown, which has waned since the pandemic.

“I don’t want to see 2^nd Street die,” Browning, who owns downtown J.B. Lovedraft’s Micro Pub, said. “I hope by bringing back the nightclub, it will reignite the nightlife on 2^nd Street.”

This will be Browning’s fifth business in the area, as he operates Lovedraft’s locations in Mechanicsburg and York, as well, with a Broad Street Market stand opening in Harrisburg soon.

The roughly 12,000-square-foot building will feature a DJ-driven dance club on the first floor, called “Nocturnal.” Above it are two floors that will feature a 1920s vibe and a high-end, cocktail bar feel, Browning explained.

The building is still undergoing renovations, but the upstairs will maintain the 1920s feel that it currently has.

The 1940s-era building originally housed a hardware store and later the Harrisburg Hardware Bar, before becoming the Susquehanna Ale House.

On the side of the building on Pine Street is an entrance to the upstairs speakeasy. Under past ownership, the entrance led to “Madam Knock’s Pine Street Beauty Parlor,” a small salon with a hidden entrance to the speakeasy. According to Browning, they plan to keep the secret entrance, but redesign it with a new feel. The speakeasy will feature a different name, though Browning plans to keep it under wraps for now.

The secret Pine Street entrance to the upstairs speakeasy will remain, but Browning plans to redesign it.

Browning wants to ensure that the nightclub is safe for attendees. The building will utilize metal detectors, and staff will be educated on watching for weapons and illegal drug use, he said.

“We want to continue and make sure it’s a safe environment and inclusive to everyone,” he added.

Ultimately, the staff hopes that the new business will encourage people to return to downtown Harrisburg and to feel safe doing so.

According to Browning, he plans to open Nocturnal by the end of February and expects to be open Thursdays through Sundays.

“I’m super excited to bring the nightlife back,” said Nocturnal Assistant Manager Serena Lawhon. “It’s going to be the place people want to go to. There are not a lot of options, so this will be very exciting.”

Nocturnal will be located at 236 N. 2^nd St., Harrisburg.

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Local officials, organizations, unhoused residents voice opposition to Harrisburg’s Mulberry Street Bridge encampment eviction

January 16, 2023 | by Maddie Gittens

Volunteers with Harrisburg-based The Belong Collective clean up trash under the Mulberry Street Bridge.

Harry Leibfried has worked to keep his living area clean while he has lived under Harrisburg’s Mulberry Street Bridge.

But it hasn’t been easy, and he doesn’t dispute the fact that not everyone keeps their space as tidy as he does. However, there are blighted areas across the city, he argued, not just where he lives. So, when he found out that the city would soon evict him, and everyone else living under the bridge, he was shocked.

“It’s completely unfair,” he said. “Why don’t we attack the whole problem? No, we’ll push the homeless around because that’s the easiest thing to do.”

Leibfried is one of over 50 people who live in one of the city’s largest encampments under the Mulberry Street Bridge. He has lived there for over a year.

Last week, Harrisburg officials announced that the city would permanently shut down the encampment, citing health and safety concerns. A rat infestation, trash build-ups and increased crime forced them to take action, officials said. They have given those living under the bridge until this coming Thursday to vacate.

However, since the announcement, organizations, activists, local officials and, most importantly, encampment residents themselves have spoken out against the decision.

Homeless encampment under the Mulberry Street Bridge in Harrisburg.

On Monday morning, while Leibfried spoke with Downtown Daily Bread staff who were on site, a local church group cleaned up trash from under the bridge.

Justin Douglas, lead pastor at Harrisburg-based The Belong Collective, led the group in collecting bags of trash. He hopes the effort will show the city that there are other ways to address health concerns within the encampment.

“We feel what we can do is apply pressure to the city to reconsider their decision and ultimately, at the very least, to reconsider their timeline,” he said.

Additionally, the group organized a petition to oppose Harrisburg’s eviction order for the encampment. By Monday at noon, 360 people had signed the petition, but Douglas hoped that, by the end of the day, it would garner 1,000 signatures. In the coming days, they will send the results to the city, he explained.

Douglas said that The Belong Collective has previously partnered with Bethesda Mission’s outreach program, making visits to the encampment and bringing food and assistance. While he agreed that there may be safety and health concerns in the area, he didn’t understand the need for immediate eviction.

“This is not a safe situation, but the idea of calling it a health and safety crisis and emergency to the extent that we need a seven-day window, is kind of arbitrary to me,” he said.

According to Douglas, he was not given any advanced notice of the city’s decision to close the encampment. Corrie Lingenfelter, interim executive director of Downtown Daily Bread, said that she only found out about the city’s plan the day before they announced it publicly.

Now, Lingenfelter and staff from the Harrisburg nonprofit are visiting the encampment daily to provide resources to residents and help them plan for their move.

Some people plan to relocate, while others may enter rehabilitation centers and some may seek refuge in shelters, Lingenfelter said.

While Leibfried said that he plans to move to another area of the city, resident Josh, who preferred not to share his last name, said that he will likely enter a shelter or rehab program.

“It’s going to displace a lot of people that have tried to make their home here,” Josh said.

On Friday, Harrisburg City Council member Shamaine Daniels posted a statement on Facebook, also critical of the city’s decision.

In her post, Daniels explained how she visited the encampment in 2020 and found nothing “offensive” there. She also noted her opposition to the 2023 budget, which she voted against in December, claiming it cut services for low-income residents.

“I am appalled by this eviction,” her post read. “I am appalled by how incapable Wanda is to address the pressing needs of the city’s residents.”

On Sunday, the city responded by issuing a “Councilwoman Daniels Facebook Post Fact Sheet,” in which they disputed many of the claims she made against the city and Mayor Wanda Williams.

“In response to the city’s decision due to the health and safety of encampment residents and residents of the city at large, Councilwoman Shamaine Daniels wrote a Facebook post replete with false information,” Communications Director Matt Maisel stated in a post to Twitter.

Williams also addressed the backlash to the city’s plan at a press conference on Friday.

“We’ve got a lot of negative criticism about what we intend to do at the homeless camp,” she said. “It was really a critical emergency. This was not something that we wanted to do, but we had to because it was a critical moment.”

Harrisburg said that they plan to relocate the impacted homeless population to another location in the city, which will not be publicized.

Many nonprofits present at the press conference explained how they will continue to assist those in need. Several winter overnight shelters are near capacity, but have space for a few more people, officials stated. They will also help with transportation and finding housing for those who want it.

“We just are going to continue our mission with making sure our clients are taken care of and get the proper treatment that they need,” Lingenfelter said.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

January 13, 2023 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Architectural rendering of the Savoy, a proposed apartment building in Harrisburg (credit: Warehaus)

In case you missed any of this week’s news stories from the Harrisburg area while filling up on milkshakes and petting cows at the PA Farm Show, we’ve got you covered. Find all of our stories, listed and linked, below.

An apartment project took a step closer towards starting in Harrisburg after receiving planning commission approval, our online story reported. Developer Vice Capital has proposed a 48-unit apartment building on the 1500-block of N. 6^th Street.

Ann Zaprazny, a certified mental performance coach, is the founder of Great Sports Minds of Hershey. In our magazine story, learn about how she helps athletes get the most out of their talents, as well as their competitive experiences.

Bob’s Art Blog features artists and makers showcased at New Cumberland’s holiday market in November. He also previews upcoming events in the local art world.

TheBurg Podcast came out this week and features interviews with scientists and storytellers. Click here to listen to our January episode.

Greg Czarnecki is the only person dedicating his entire focus to climate change at a Pennsylvania state agency, our magazine story reported. Recently, he has set his focus on educating the next generation of climate change agents.

Harrisburg announced that it plans to close the homeless encampment under the Mulberry Street Bridge, our online story reported. According to officials, health and safety concerns influenced their decision.

Home sales fell last month, but prices continue to rise in the Harrisburg area, our online story reported. To find sale data for Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry counties, click here.

Homicides increased in Harrisburg last year, setting a record for the past many years, our reporting found. In our story, read about families impacted by the violence and about how the city plans to address it.

Mayor Wanda Williams and local nonprofit leaders addressed plans to assist people being displaced by the closure of the Mulberry Street Bridge encampment, our online story reported. Officials explained that they will relocate people to a new area of the city and provide other services.

Pasta is on the menu this January, as our food writer shares a comforting winter recipe. In her column, learn how to make “Farfalle Della Bisnonna” or “Bowties with Cabbage and Meat Sauce.”

Sara Bozich has a full list of activities for an eventful weekend around Harrisburg, here.

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Harrisburg mayor, homelessness activists address plans to assist displaced Mulberry Street Bridge community

January 13, 2023 | by Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams and local nonprofit officials announced plans to assist those living under the Mulberry Street Bridge.

Harrisburg plans to close a large homeless encampment in the city, but officials ensured that they have plans to assist those being displaced.

At a press conference on Friday, Mayor Wanda Williams, city officials and nonprofit leaders discussed their plans to relocate and provide help to those who soon will be vacating the encampment under the Mulberry Street Bridge.

“It was really a critical emergency,” said Williams of the decision to close the camp. “This was not something that we wanted to do, but we had to do because it was a critical moment. At this point, we are working with all the different entities to come up with a plan.”

On Thursday, the city announced that it would close the encampment, which is one of the largest in Harrisburg, due to health and safety hazards, a rat infestation and a buildup of trash. Harrisburg is giving the people who live there until Thursday, Jan. 19, to move out.

After that, the public works department will clear and clean the area.

At the press conference, members of the Capital Area Coalition on Homelessness (CACH) explained that they are working with the city to provide services for those impacted.

“We care about our clients, our homeless family as I would any of my friends,” said Corrie Lingenfelter, interim executive director of Downtown Daily Bread. “Our message here at Downtown Daily Bread is to say, our biggest concern is the safety of our clients and of the homeless population.”

According to the city, they are currently determining where to relocate people from under the Mulberry Street Bridge. They will choose a new site by Thursday, officials said.

Additionally, organizations like Downtown Daily Bread, Christian Churches United of the Tri-County Area (CCU), Dauphin County Human Services and UPMC of Central Pa. are providing help to those who want it, they said.

Downtown Daily Bread and CCU both host winter overnight shelters, which all have the capacity for more people.

Officials also stressed the importance of organizations working together to provide a unified system of helping those in need.

“We are encouraging all of the grassroots organizations, all of the folks who are out there helping to connect with us, to connect with our social agencies so we can really make a huge, greater impact,” said Aisha Mobley, community mobilization and outreach coordinator at CCU.

According to Police Commissioner Thomas Carter, an increase in crime was one of the city’s main concerns and reasons for clearing the encampment. Since November, police received 16 incident calls to the area. There were six assaults, three drug overdoses, one mental illness-related incident, two reports of suspicious persons, one instance of trespassing, one traffic hazard and two warrants served, resulting in arrests, according to police data.

“This is a need that we see,” Carter said. “Now we are trying to get the people the help that they need.”

After the area is vacated and cleaned, the city said that it will not allow unhoused residents to return, based on its belief that the same problems would occur again, said Matt Maisel, communications director for the city.

However, in the coming days, they will be helping those who want help with finding housing and other services, he said.

“I just think this is a really great opportunity to look at a long-range plan for Dauphin County, for the city, and we really appreciate the collaboration,” said Randie Yeager, director of Dauphin County Human Services.

For more information about the Capital Area Coalition on Homelessness, visit their website.

Christian Churches United of the Tri-County Area is located at 413 S. 19^th St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit their website.

Downtown Daily Bread is located at 234 South St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit their website.

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Plan your weekend with my weekly list of things to do around Harrisburg and central PA!

What you’ll find:

For your weekend planning

A Look Ahead

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

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