DENVER (KDVR) — A sudden camping ban enforcement action on Wednesday at West 4th Avenue and Kalamath Street in Denver’s Baker neighborhood put individuals setting up camp in a hard position.
The people there came from an encampment swept in the adjacent Lincoln Park neighborhood the day before. The unannounced arrival of Denver police officers enforcing the camping ban caught many by surprise.
Craig Beck didn’t know what to think.
“They came in and said because of the umbrella I had up I was violating the camping ban in Denver County,” Beck said.
About 35 people set up in the area after city enforcement forced them to leave another encampment about a half mile away at 8th Avenue and Mariposa Street on Tuesday.
The Denver Police Department said 11 people were arrested for breaking the camping ban. People staying at the encampment say some of their belongings were taken away.
Housing advocates decry city enforcement actions
“We cannot continue this. This is what went on with Mayor (Michael) Hancock. It was ineffective then. And it’s ineffective now,” Together Denver housing advocate Amy Beck said.
People at the new site say they thought they had permission to set up here.
“Honestly, I think there’s a problem here that nobody knows the solution to it,” said Craig Beck, a member of the unhoused population and unrelated to Amy Beck.
Another man told FOX31 off-camera that he just wants stability. An area business owner who did not want to be identified said the trouble started when unhoused people began arriving.
“Over the past four days, since they’ve been getting swept, we have seen an uptick in crime,” the business owner said. “Our neighbor had his AC stolen off his roof. We have had several break-ins over the last four days as well.”
A spokesman for Mayor Mike Johnston said the city is “monitoring folks from this and other encampments to try and prevent the growth from camps to such a large number that the site exceeds the number of available housing units.”
Craig said he’d like one of those units, but for now, he’ll just have to move again.
Outreach teams are working to provide resources for the homeless through congregate shelters, according to Johnston’s office. However, homeless advocates say they are concerned camping ban enforcement will continue and more homeless people will end up in jail.