Crime & Safety
Homeless Encampment On Exit 4 On-Ramp Removed By Authorities
Up to 40 residents had set up a homeless camp that the city of Manchester said was dangerous. State Police work with a clean-up company.
MANCHESTER, NH — Several members of the New Hampshire State Police, NH DOT, and a bio-hazard clean-up company were at the Exit 4 onramp on Monday.
A homeless encampment expanded over recent months to as many as 40 people living on the banks of the Merrimack River. The site was accessed by the people by walking up the exit 4 on-ramp.
Several complaints of pedestrians walking in the roadway were received from people saying they almost hit pedestrians in the road. The camp grew after the city of Manchester removed encampments at the Amoskeag Bridge, behind Firestone Automotive and one in an area called the “bucket” off Douglas Street.
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The city of Manchester Health Department and state of New Hampshire personnel shut down and removed the encampment, citing dangerous conditions.
Residents of the camp were warned by authorities that they were not allowed to camp on state property, and needed to vacate. They were given a deadline of Sept. 14 to remove all items.
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State police visited the residents several times since the deadline and advised them that the DOT and a cleanup company would remove all items.
On Monday, troopers closed the onramp and several trucks arrived from DOT and the company removing the items. There were less than 10 residents left in the camp and they were offered assistance in gathering the items they wanted to take with them. Items that the residents wanted to keep were piled up along the guard rail.
New England Trauma Services, a cleanup company, had several workers at the encampment in protective suits. Piles of personal belongings were mixed with bicycles, generators, furniture, and tarps. Some items could be seen in the river which currently has low water levels.
A woman named Kelly, who has been homeless and an advocate, was also at the site. She said she lives at another location but said, “the state police were awesome to work with.” When asked where the people would relocate to, she didn’t have an answer.
Service agencies from the city of Manchester, and Manchester Mental Health have made several visits to assist the residents.
Encampments have now become scattered across Manchester, but each one has become smaller in size. The large encampments that appear to bring too much attention have become less popular.
©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news
