BANGOR, Maine — With two days left before the planned clearing of part of Bangor’s largest homeless encampment, city officials are at odds with unhoused people over the impact the move could have.
“Most of us can take care of ourselves,” James Hilton, who has lived at the encampment for three years, said on Wednesday.
Earlier this week, the city posted a five-day notice for the clearing, explaining that anyone who hasn’t connected with outreach resources will have to leave the site — which is in a wooded area behind the Hope House near the Bangor International Airport.
While Hilton acknowledges problems present in the tent city, he sees them as self-contained issues that don’t affect the larger public — and don’t need intervention.
“Yeah, most of us do drugs. But you don't see us robbing people,” Hilton said.
But though these realities may be hidden from public view, for people living in the encampment, the behavior of the inhabitants is making it difficult to seek help.
“I feel like people need to be adults. They're acting like children out here,” Emilie Mornault, who lives at the encampment, said. She added that some nights it's hard to sleep with the sounds of fighting in the encampment.
To Bangor homeless advocates, this is all the more reason to go forward with the clearing. Boyd Kronholm, the executive director of the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter, says encampments left untouched can develop power structures that breed violence.
“They become self-governing. Their own governor sets up, and that's not always in the best interest. Sometimes it's might makes right.” Kronholm said Wednesday.
According to the city, anyone at the encampment not willing to connect with outreach organizations will be given a criminal trespass order.
On Thursday, Bangor City Manager Debbie Laurie released a statement regarding the encampment clearing:
"On Friday, October 20th, after more than three months of intensive outreach efforts, identified individuals who have refused to engage will be asked to leave the homeless encampment located behind the Hope House. This decision was not made lightly. It was based on safety and security concerns for those individuals within the encampment who are engaged with services providers, as observed, and reported by individuals on site, including outreach, as well as neighbors. The individuals being asked to leave are refusing to engage with outreach staff and are engaged in activity that is endangering the well-being of others. This action is being undertaken to ensure that those individuals who are engaging in services can do so in a safe environment.
"Every effort will continue to be made to support the individuals who are being asked to leave the location without disrupting the lives of those who will remain. A thoughtful, methodical process has been undertaken by the City, and its partners, to ensure those being asked to leave have received proper notice.
"Tomorrow morning, City staff, along with our community partners, will be on site to assist those being asked to leave. Totes will be provided for personal items, and storage options will be offered for items too large to carry. If necessary, criminal trespass orders will be issued to those who refuse to leave the premises. It’s important to note that the trespass orders do not become part of a criminal record.
"The City, and community partners, remain committed to helping any individual throughout the City who chooses to engage with outreach workers to secure safe, permanent housing and to access necessary services," Laurie said.