BETHLEHEM, Pa. — There’s often more than meets the eye when someone experiences homelessness, community members stressed to City Council last week.
Terry Schew said he lives in an encampment on nearby Norfolk Southern railroad property that’s facing displacement on Dec. 15.
“The middle of winter — you’re gonna literally have people dead,” Schew said. “The shelters don’t and can’t hold that many.
“It’s on somebody else’s conscience.”
Norfolk Southern, in an Aug. 25 letter, requested city police assistance in “facilitating the removal” of an estimated 30 people living in tents along 22 acres of its property near the Lehigh River.
“When they see us down there, they will put everybody in the same category, whether we do drugs or not. I, myself, am a college student. I work four jobs right now.”Destiny of Bethlehem
The land in question includes about 4.5 acres on either side of the Hill-to-Hill Bridge and State Route 378 in Lehigh County, as well as more than 17 acres at Sand Island Park, Fahy Bridge and more land to the east and past Stefko Boulevard, in both Lehigh and Northampton counties.
Norfolk Southern also offered assistance in finding resources for those displaced.
The company's police department cited "significant health and safety concerns" on site.
"Apparently I exist because I’m here. I’m alive,” Schew said.
“I’m not a bum — far from it. I work harder now than I ever did before.”
Destiny, another member of the encampment, said, “When they see us down there, they will put everybody in the same category, whether we do drugs or not.
“I, myself, am a college student. I work four jobs right now.”
Officials: Have met challenges in stride
Marc Rittle, executive director for New Bethany Inc. at Fourth and Wyandotte streets in South Bethlehem, said there’s already forward momentum happening behind the scenes in his nonprofit’s work.
A resident of the community for more than 20 years, Rittle said Bethlehem is “really good at coming together in a crisis” such as the present case — as more than 30 people will be affected by the camp breaking up, according to a recent figure from the city.
"A solution will be a combination of efforts, including dollars and space for temporary housing, resources for behavioral health services and really a whole lot more than that.”Marc Rittle, executive director for New Bethany Inc. in South Bethlehem
“We already know quite a bit about the population that we serve, so I consider that good news, and puts us ahead of the game in terms of coming up with a plan,” Rittle said.
He called the railroad’s decision “unfortunate” but appreciated at least some time to plan what’s next.
“We also know that each person has a different barrier to finding shelter, finding a home," he said.
"So a solution will be a combination of efforts, including dollars and space for temporary housing, resources for behavioral health services and really a whole lot more than that.”
“I think it’s all on the table as far as what those potential options are.”Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds
Bethlehem officials said the city’s Community Connections program, which dates to 2020 and pairs social workers and police officers with people in need, will keep on the gas.
And discussions will remain underway for what’s next for Bethlehem, its social service organizations and the people in question.
“I think it’s all on the table as far as what those potential options are,” Mayor J. William Reynolds said.
'Find space, both physically and bureaucratically'
Forty-seven people came by for assistance across two of Community Connections' recent Coordinated Assistance Resource Events, bringing multiple services to one location, according to Kristen Wenrich, health director with Bethlehem Health Bureau.
Officials have said there are 91 people experiencing homelessness across the city.
Here is City Council discussing the Norfolk Southern request.
Councilwoman Colleen Laird called for a “holistic” look at the possibilities moving forward.
Brian Hillard with Serving to Aid and Restore, or S.T.A.R., previously known as Helping Bethlehem’s Homeless, said the city “needs to find space, both physically and bureaucratically, to give our neighbors spaces to live.”
“Some of the clients that have come through our doors have been some of the most wonderful people I’ve ever met,” Hillard said.
“These people come from all walks of life, and I would argue that every single one of them has had experiences and life thrust upon them that ultimately led to their current situation.
“They’re kind and considerate people, and they’re just looking to survive. They’re just looking to exist, just looking to be.”
“My heart goes out to these people — every day."Richard Moser, who volunteers at a food bank across from his home in Bethlehem
Richard Moser, a city resident who volunteers at a food bank across from his home, said he knows and has served people living in the affected area.
He recommended at least moving the eviction date to summertime so people aren’t left with nowhere to go just on the verge of winter.
It also would offer them more time and decent weather to find somewhere else to stay, Moser said.
“My heart goes out to these people — every day,” he said.
'What would you do?'
In an interview with LehighValleyNews.com, Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering Executive Director Bob Rapp said the overnight facility will open Nov. 1 with a “hard-and-fast” 70 beds.
“What would you do if you were told that less than [X amount of] days from now, you had to move out of the housing that you currently have, and there’s no place for you to go?"Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering Executive Director Bob Rapp
“What would you do if you were told that less than [X amount of] days from now, you had to move out of the housing that you currently have, and there’s no place for you to go?" Rapp said.
"What would you do? And that’s where we’re at for a lot of folks.”
Rapp is the pastor at Christ Church UCC in Bethlehem, 75 E. Market St., where the shelter operates alongside S.T.A.R.
He said BES averaged 65 guests per night last season, and space likely will fill up fast on opening day depending on the weather.
More than 85% of those served by BES “have grown up here, have gone to school here, have raised families here,” Rapp said.
The shelter has seen increasing populations in the age ranges of 18-29 and 50-59. They’re often starting from scratch, even when they have a job, he said.
Last year, 109 people experiencing homelessness for the first time came by the shelter for assistance, Rapp said.
"This growing trend could just mean we’re just going to continuously move folks around — and we’re already starting to see that.”Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering Executive Director Bob Rapp
And now, he said, there are “a handful” of cases in which someone leaving the Jordan Creek encampment in Allentown — recently called to evict due to its location in an active flood zone — have made their way to Bethlehem.
“Now they’ll be displaced again,” Rapp said.
“So this growing trend could just mean we’re just going to continuously move folks around — and we’re already starting to see that.”
He said to imagine what it would be like being forced to downsize your living situation in just a few months time.
“We need to find something that we can promote — something safe, something clean, something maintained — where folks can work their way up and work their way out,” Rapp said.
“And I tell folks this all the time: We utilize that model when we send our kids and our grandkids off to college. We utilize that model when we send our kids and grandkids off to military service."
City Council next meets 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16, at Bethlehem Town Hall rotunda, 10 E. Church St.
