‘Don’t have anywhere to go:’ Orlando homeless encampment set to be cleared

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This story was originally published in WKMG News 6.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Dozens of people who live in a homeless encampment in Orlando are preparing to vacate the area on the heels of receiving a violation notice demanding they remove their tents.

“They’ll find a homeless encampment and run you out,” said Lorenzo Combs, who stopped to speak to News 6 as he worked on moving his things to a separate encampment.

News 6 visited the encampment on West New Hampshire Street Monday, walking through the area with an advocate who works with homeless people.

“Shelters are at capacity,” said Erick Louis, the co-director of CHXNGE, a harm reduction organization based in Central Florida. “These folks don’t have anywhere to go.”

Louis contacted News 6 on Monday to discuss a notice of violation that was issued on April 10. News 6 reviewed the notice, which notes violations of “improper storage” and “trash and storage.”

The notice advises that the following items be removed from the premises:

Boxes/paper

Logs/limbs

Scattered litter

Pots/pans

Building materials

Tents

Louis agrees with those living in the encampment, who said the notice essentially amounts to an evacuation order.

“I work out of town,” said a man who only identified himself as Al. “And when I came back, I got all this thrown in my lap.”

Al told News 6 that he has a construction job, but does not make enough money to afford rent.

Louis said he has met many people like Al.

“These people aren’t vagrants,” said Louis. “These people aren’t incapable of taking care of themselves, feeding themselves, getting a job. Al has a job. And he’s still in this position.”

While the notice states that violators of the city code have 15 days to comply and remedy the situation, Al and others told News 6 that city officials returned Monday and said people needed to leave by Tuesday.

News 6 reached out to a city spokesperson for comment on Monday, but a response was not returned at the time of this story’s broadcast.

Louis lamented the approach cities have taken since HB 1365 took effect, prohibiting local governments in Florida from allowing camping or sleeping on public property.

“There’s just a specific sort of ire and disdain reserved for people who are unhoused,” Louis argued.