WATCH: Homeless encampment at Washington’s McPherson Square cleared
Christine Queally
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The National Park Service cleared one of the largest homeless encampments in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, vacating more than 70 people from a large park just blocks from the White House.
As major cities move to implement assistance programs to accommodate their growing homeless populations, encampments like the one at Mcpherson Square have grown, posing new challenges for city governments.
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City workers in hazmat suits and Washington-area advocacy groups for the unhoused were present to assist people in moving out and cleaning up leftover debris. The encampment was supposed to be cleared in April, but the cleanup was recently moved up by several weeks.
“McPherson Square was closed this morning because of very serious concerns about growing threats to life, health, and safety,” National Park Service Public Affairs Specialist Mike Litterst said in a statement.
“The District requested that the National Park Service (NPS) close the encampment earlier out of concern for health and safety and given that the growth of the encampment was impeding effective social service engagement,” Litterst added.
Throughout the cleanup process, officers made multiple announcements instructing people that they must leave the park. Otherwise, they’d be subject to arrest on grounds of unlawful assembly. However, many were there up until the last minute when cleaning crews showed up.
NPS and other Washington-based organizations, such as Pathways to Housing D.C., were on-site to provide access to resources and shelter options for people who have been living in the park.
“The NPS and other federal agencies met with the National Coalition for Housing Justice to discuss the compassionate-focused plan for closure. This morning, DMHHS and service providers are again on-site to assist unsheltered people with housing options.” Litterst said.
When the Washington Examiner reached out to Pathway to Housing D.C. for comment, Communications Director Braulio Agnese said the organization was concentrating its focus on relocating the former residents of McPherson Square.
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“Our priority is the residents of McPherson Square and Pathway’s 3,000 other clients who are experiencing homelessness and those who have moved from the street into housing with our ongoing supportive services in both D.C. and Montgomery County,” Agnese said.
Despite relocation efforts from the district government and multiple aid organizations, there were still some residents who refused to leave the encampment.