Manchester Evicts Homeless From Encampment Under Amoskeag Bridge

MANCHESTER, NH — The City of Manchester is taking steps to force all homeless individuals in the Amoskeag Bridge encampment to vacate the property by Friday night.

City officials said that a fire that started late Wednesday night is the deciding factor to remove the encampment. Mayor Joyce Craig issued the following statement:

“Late Wednesday evening, the Manchester Fire Department was called to a large fire on Canal Street caused by the explosion of multiple propane tanks," Craig said in the statement.
"As a result of the fire, tents, brush and personal property were destroyed. Thankfully, there were no fatalities or injuries."

She continued: "This was a serious incident, placing people in imminent danger of bodily harm or death. The fire was damaging to both personal possessions of those living at the Canal Street encampment and City property, threatening residences and potential damage to the Amoskeag Bridge. This follows the tragic, propane-related fire death of an individual residing in a tent by South Willow Street several week ago.

That is why last night, Chief Goonan asked that the Canal Street location be vacated. For months, the city has been working in conjunction with Families in Transition, the Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester, Healthcare for the Homeless, Café 1269 and other community partners providing outreach and services on a daily basis. There are beds available at Families in Transition for every single individual residing at the Canal Street encampment. In addition, the City will provide storage of personal property if needed.”

The City of Manchester currently has over 30 homeless camps spread throughout the city, but the Amoskeag bridge encampment located on Canal Street is one of the most visible.

Homeless camps have been controversial over the last year with Manchester officials blaming the state for removing an encampment outside of the Hillsborough County Courthouse. The state of New Hampshire provided several weeks of notice to the people at the courthouse but was criticized by city officials as being insensitive and inhumane in the removal.

In the Amoskeag, encampment signs were posted late Thursday communicating that people had until 5:00 pm Friday to vacate the encampment. Manchester Fire Outreach team which includes Manchester Mental Health and Families in Transition is on-site assisting the people.

The city has provided two large plastic totes to each of the residents in the encampment. They can fill them with any belonging they want to save, and the items will be stored for 30 days and then disposed of. Large items that don’t fit in the bins such as bicycles can be tagged and also will be held for 30 days.

At 4:00 p.m. Friday, several people were seen packing up their belongings, and others were seen in their tents and shelters.

Families in Transition offered the following information via a press release:

The Families in Transition Outreach team is working directly with unsheltered individuals from all encampments throughout the city who need a safe place to find shelter and locate stable housing opportunities alongside our partners at other outreach providers.

Beds are currently available at our adult emergency shelter. Bed numbers are fluid on any given night based on utilization and the need for social distancing and COVID safety measures. After check-in last night, there were upwards of 45 beds available for individuals experiencing homelessness.

FOR PEOPLE SEEKING SHELTER:

If you are experiencing homelessness, you can call (603) 722-1250 or check-in at 199 Manchester Street in Manchester during check-in hours.

– Any individual experiencing homelessness can access shelter by checking in at 199 Manchester Street to obtain a bed between 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm daily.

– Once an individual is assigned a bed, the bed is reserved for that individual until they stop checking in daily. We fill open beds on a first-come-first-serve basis.

– Shelter guests must check-in by 7:00 pm, or their bed becomes open to others on the nightly waitlist.

– For Emergency Winter Shelter Operations, if an individual has been suspended from the emergency shelter, the suspended individual will be assigned a bed at either of the two Winter Shelter locations.

– We provide new shelter guests a tour and orientation of services and the resources provided during their shelter stay and inform all shelter guests of shelter policies and guidelines.

– All shelter guests have access to the shelter during the day.

– Three meals are prepared and made available by the shelter's dining services each day.

Patch will update as more information becomes available.

©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news