Tent City Removal

It is with a heavy heart that I share with you the news that the Mecklenburg Health Department has designated the encampments a health hazard due to rodent infestation. The members of the Board of County Commissioners were alerted yesterday around 4:00.

You can view the order for removal HERE. The order is called an Abatement of Imminent Hazard Order and is found as a PDF in that link. I won't repeat the reasons for removal; you can find them in that PDF. I highly recommend you read it for your understanding.

This is what I know. Please know that I am only as good as the information that I receive:Each and every resident in Tent City will be given alternative accommodations. Mecklenburg County has rented out another hotel and transportation will be provided to each person who agrees to move. The county is partnering with other agencies to ensure mental health and substance abuse counselors are available. If the residents refuse to move to this hotel, they cannot be forced to seek shelter. There are 100-140 individuals living in Tent City.The order was issued Tuesday at 5:00. All encampments must be cleared within 72 hours to begin eradication of the rodents. Friday at 5:00, all encampments will be removed. It is my understanding some of the grassroots organizations are asking for a longer window of time to assist the folks in moving. No one can be forced to go to shelter of any kind, living in a tent is not against the law and homelessness is not a criminal action. The fact is, however, it is not humane to allow human beings to live in rat-infested areas where the spread of disease is imminent.

It is very possible that some of these individuals will relocate their tent somewhere else. Please know that this is not a moratorium on tents. This is a health issue and the order is to remove the current encampments due to the infestation. Obviously, if another tent city springs up, it's highly likely this scenario will be played out again.

If you want to help, my recommendation is to contact one of the organizations I suggested earlier in another email:

Roof Above: https://www.roofabove.org/roof-above-coming-soon-v2/

Block Love CLT: https://blockloveclt.org/

Hearts Beat As One: http://heartsbeatasonefoundation.org/