State Of New Hampshire Coordinating Cleanup Of Homeless Camps

MANCHESTER, NH — Manchester has one of the largest homeless populations in New Hampshire. The city's largest homeless shelter is New Horizon, operated by Families in Transition in the center of downtown Manchester. It offers services for people including health, rehabilitation, Veteran services and mental health have brought people to Manchester.

The location has been the focus of a large population of people — bringing the shelter to over capacity multiple times.

The overflow from the shelter forced many to set up encampments across the city of Manchester. Camps began to develop along the Merrimack River, along railroad tracks, and in heavily wooded areas around the city.

When the coronavirus pandemic hit the Manchester area, concern for exposure from the residents of the shelter grew. Manchester in conjunction with CMC, and other agencies set up testing for all residents and staff at the shelter.

As the testing began, people who normally would stay at the shelter began to move to new encampments around the city. A large group of people began to form an expanded camp under the Amoskeag Bridge. The city of Manchester reached out to the state to assist them in ensuring a safer environment and help prevent the spread of Coronavirus.

Portable toilets and handwashing stations were brought to the area, and temporary fencing was set up to protect the camp. The state of New Hampshire provided money for Manchester police to provide 24/7 security to the camp. Services for food to be delivered daily was coordinated with a local business, Stark Mill restaurant.

With all the additional services, the camp grew to over 25 people — many who relocated from other camps around Manchester. Previous camps were being abandoned across the area leaving hazards behind including debris, needles, human waste, and infrastructure from the previous residents.

The state of New Hampshire Emergency Operations Center (EOC) joined forces with local officials to mitigate the hazards left at the camps. New Hampshire State Police Capt. Haynes who is the Logistics Chief for the EOC, and NH Fire Marshal Parisi the Unified Command Support Officer visited multiple sites in Manchester.

ACV a haz-mat cleanup company, was hired to come to multiple Manchester sites which had several abandoned camps to mitigate hazards.

Haynes and Parisi walked the sites and discussed the work they are coordinating. Haynes stressed they are not removing and demolishing any active camps around Manchester. Any active camps will be left alone, and the residents are notified of the process. The residents of the camps were made aware to put all of their items in marked areas, and assured nothing would be removed.

ACV is using temporary labor from Manchester along with their own employees to pick up the expansive areas. Brush is being cleared, and discarded items are being removed to dumpsters. The dumpsters are covered with secure tarps and will be taken to hazmat disposal sites.

Small excavators have been brought in to remove contaminated topsoil and larger objects at the camp sites.

During the coordination of the clean up, Haynes had a conversation with a man known as “Deano.” He is a veteran who shared that he has a hard time living near people, and that is why he is living in a secluded camp with a few other men.

While touring the camps Deano wanted his picture taken so he could be a “celebrity” and featured in the article. He shared that he had been on several deployments to different wars, and conflicts. He feels most comfortable living where he does.

Haynes said no one is being removed or evicted from the camps and most of the residents of the camps appreciate the clean up being done.

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©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news