There is a similar encampment on the southwest corner of the green downtown for about three weeks since the weather is warm. They are killing the grass and destroying the neighborhood.

@Seawall - you are absolutely correct. There is no reason to allow this. It is illegal. It is unsafe. It is unsanitary. The folks who built the last 'camp' in East Rock were there not because they had to be but because neither their families nor the shelters would tolerate their drug use. Do we really want these people in our parks?

I'm not as strongly opposed to people camping on unused land as some, but I agree 100% that the trash problem needs to be addressed at any such encampment. Also: this particular one is totally unacceptable! It isn't in some obscure corner of the park (like the old one near Willow Street), it's right on one of the main nature trails used by families, school groups, etc. I'm actually surprised they've been allowed to remain this long!

MNHGA is totally correct! If you dig deep enough like I have almost all of these homeless people were barred from the shelters for various reasons such as using the N-word toward staff, slipping in tiny alcohol bottles in their armpits, disruptive behavior and all types of other rules violations. The shelter gives a 3 strikes and your out rule too, so these people have had chances to behave and failed them. Also, unless you have a job the shelters want you there before 5:30pm and select people enjoy the nightlife too much to abide by this time limit. In addition, clever types will tell you in mantra-type soundbites that they avoid the shelter b/c of health reasons such as bed bugs and staff infections which are wise lies to get your sympathy. Keep in mind that New Haven residents are the ultimate source of this problem by giving them money. There is an abundance of food in New Haven for free so if a sign holder is appealing to you out of hunger it is a lie.

How come a City agency responds almost immediately when someone posts about a sewage drain or a pothole, but this issue is days old with 14 votes and no response! Has the Parks Dept been tagged?

It looks like something was done - at least, there are what look like bulldozer tracks through the park. Isn't there some way to clear these sites that doesn't require clear-cutting?

There is at least one other tent down by the river on the other side of Orange Street. I am speaking of the main dirt path that parallels English Drive that links Orange Street with the baseball diamonds. It has been there for several weeks.

There are other tents along the Mill River, which are in the woods behind the Cedar Hill area.

This issue is now a month old and the City has not responded to this post. Encampments are growing and the Parks Department, LCI and the Police refuse to address the issue. All City parks close at sunset with the exception of the New Haven Green. These people are breaking so many laws. If I set up a tent In East Rock Park to have a sleepover with my grandkids I would immediately be asked to leave and arrested if I resisted. This is one of New Haven's biggest problems: the failure to address quality of life issues for those of us who pay our taxes, volunteer and go about our lives respecting the rights of others. Watch, these encampments will grow in number and remain until it gets close to the first frost. Then the City will feel compelled to act and spend thousand of taxpayer dollars to remove tons of waste, and then they will order the occupants out of the Park. Until next spring...

Although the City has not replied on this thread, it does look like the camp in question was removed - even if they destroyed a bunch of vegetation in the process.

There is another thread about the extensive camp NHVCyclist mentioned. The City did reply once on that one, to the effect that the homeless outreach social workers were going to look into it. But as far as I can tell there has been no follow-up.

Thanks for the update, Ravenclaw

more semi-permanent tent-homes added in the bushes/trees at the river side of the softball/baseball diamonds of blake field by the skating rink near the corsair. when will this stop?

Hello folks, I'm one of the homeless people living in East Rock Park. I definitely preferred sleeping on the New Haven Green, but guess what happened? Residents complained about it and the NHPD has been telling us nobody is authorized to sleep on the Green from sunset until sunrise. There is neither a city ordinance nor a state law prohibiting sleeping on the Green. The NHPD is bluffing and I'm one of the only homeless people who can see through it.

My homelessness is intentional. I've always been fascinated by homelessness in the U.S. and decided to experience the lifestyle for several months. New Haven provides fantastic programs for homeless people who would like to rejoin one of the local communities. There is a lot of faith required to take advantage of these programs which are facilitated by people who used to be homeless themselves. While they have apparently made a commitment to helping people who remain homeless, the core of who they are remains the same; many of them are still street thugs with deep criminal histories. There is no way I'm giving any of them my full name, date of birth AND full social security number which are required to enter shelters. The shelters are a reflection of military bootcamp and I'd rather not have to experience that again. The homeless people are spoken to and treated like third class citizens. Sleeping outside is way more comfortable until the cold weather drives us inside.

Hi Tommy. As far as I'm concerned, you're welcome to camp out in the woods. The objectionable parts are (a) the accumulating trash and (b) the antisocial behaviors engaged in by some of the residents (things like aggressive panhandling for drug money & stealing packages from people's porches). I don't reckon you're one of the thieves & I hope you're carrying out what you carry in, but you must realize that some of your fellow "campers" aren't so careful or honest. That's the problem that needs to get solved. Have the city social workers made any effort to discuss the situation?

We are closing this request due to its historic nature. If this concern still requires attention and you still believe SeeClickFix is a viable tool for its resolution the best way for it to be addressed is for you to create a new request including a current description of what is occurring and what solution you hope to see regarding this matter, citing/linking this request in the details. Thank you for your dedication to improving the quality of life in our community.