Illegal campsite in Missoula closes, law enforcement to respond when needed - NBC Montana
MISSOULA, Mont. — Since the early 2000s, people experiencing homelessness in Missoula have camped under the Reserve Street Bridge, but that changes beginning Monday.
City and county law enforcement say they will respond to calls of illegal camping in the city or under the bridge when necessary.
Outreach groups are encouraging those camping illegally within city limits or on private property to move to the authorized campsite on Clark Fork Lane. It’s been open since Jan. 18.
Organizers say about 20 to 25 people are staying there, but that could change as enforcement begins.
“I'm sure we will have a few more people show up,” said Casey Gannon, the shelter project coordinator. “I know the Poverello Center’s HOT team is out at Reserve Street trying to get the last few people out of there before they start trying to enforce and close those gates down.”
We saw Hope Rescue Mission volunteers checking campsites under the bridge Monday. The Poverello Homeless Outreach Team has been working to move people from the bridge to the legal camp since it opened, but we wanted to know who is in charge of enforcement.
City police say the majority of camps under the bridge are outside city limits, so they won’t actively patrol the area for trespassers.
The sheriff’s department says they’ll assist the HOT team as needed.
We reached out to county communications manager Allison Franz for clarification on who is enforcing the rules under the bridge. She confirmed the Poverello Center’s HOT team is the first line of response helping people move. They do outreach in the area to connect people living unsheltered with resources. She says law enforcement is ultimately responsible for enforcing ordinances like trespassing.
We checked out a campsite on the north side of the bridge. No people, but carts, trash and belongings were left behind.
We emailed the Montana Department of Transportation to see who’s responsible for cleaning up. They said they’re working with volunteer organizations like the Hope Rescue Mission to clean the area. The timeline depends on relocation efforts and the amount of trespassing that happens in the next few months.
They plan to install the gates on the Reserve Street fence on Tuesday.
“It will be a continual learning process to make sure we’re accommodating everything and making sure things work for everyone,” said Gannon.
source: https://nbcmontana.com/news/working-for-you/illegal-campsite-in-missoula-closes-law-enforcement-to-respond-when-needed
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