DENVER (CBS4) – The homeless camp filled with tents at 29th and Arkins Court is huge, filthy and the scene of a recent murder. Teams from the city of Denver moved in on Monday to start cleaning it up.
The operation began earlier, after a notice of at least a week, police warned those present.
“If you don’t, you’ll obstruct government operations and be arrested if you cooperate with us,” an officer said.
A police line in the shape of one of the largest camps Denver saw began to clear.
“Back up, back up, back off,” officials shouted in a video filmed through Colorado Free Press.
An erected fence that has become a barrier between the police and the anti-operative protest.
Several other people have been arrested. On Monday afternoon, a Denver police spokesman said four other people were in custody for not complying with a legal order.
From the air, you can see the scope of the camp and the cleanup operation. It is right next to the Salvation Army Crossroads Shelter, north of the city center.
Major Richard Peas, speaking of the shelter, explained why this site had such a giant tent site.
“I think they have less difficult access to some of the ones we offer, and it’s a component of the city that’s away from the crowds,” he said.
Of the more or less 90 other people who still believe they lived among the 150 tents before Monday, only about 20 to 30 others can be taken to the Salvation Army shelter due to space.
Matt McAdams is helping manage the Salvation Army shelter.
“We seek to attract everyone and have the resources to get out of the situation,” he said.
Many of those who live in tents refuse to have a room in the shelters, but it’s much less difficult to say than to do so.
Britta Fisher is the executive director of the Denver Department of Housing Stability and says her purpose is to take others to adequate housing.
“We know how to do this, we’re still running to get enough resources,” he said.
And so, for the displaced, the time has come to move once more. Private tent sites with Interfaith Alliance services are expected to open soon, but will only accommodate up to 70 people.
A step forward for some, a small decrease in the Denver-area population among homeless people.