BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Members of a homeless encampment sprawling more than 20 acres along the Lehigh River continue to get casework to help them as a closure of the settlement nears.
Set up in tents on Norfolk Southern railroad-owned property, dozens of individuals — some of whom have been in the area for years — are set to be displaced Dec. 15.
At City Council’s Oct. 21 meeting, Mayor J. William Reynolds said that as of mid-September, 75 people were living in the area in question.
The latest data shows that number was 53 as of a week ahead of the council meeting.
“We’ll continue to work with people a year from now, two years from now, three years from now, whenever it is."Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds
But in September, Reynolds said, 55 of the more than 70 people showed interest in heading to Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering on East Market Street, which opened Saturday.
He also said more than 20 of the individuals weren’t interested in housing assistance and would weigh other options.
“We’ll continue to work with people a year from now, two years from now, three years from now, whenever it is,” Reynolds said.
“There are some success stories, and then there are other people that are a little bit reticent to look for any help, or at least from that is being offered.”
'Rely on the relationships'
In August, Norfolk Southern sent its request for city police assistance in “facilitating the removal” of the homeless encampment because of safety concerns and fire hazards.
It's owned the acreage in question since around the turn of the century, according to property records from Lehigh and Northampton counties.
And in her 21 years with the city police department, five of those as top cop, Bethlehem Chief Michelle Kott told LehighValleyNews.com she wasn’t aware of any other contact of the like from the railroad.
“A lot of this was generated from citizen complaints,” Kott said.
She said she never was told what specific residents or neighborhood reached out to the railroad on the matter.
But with structures near active rail lines and complaints to the railroad reportedly ramping up, she said her department figured Norfolk Southern may have reached out at some point.
“The last thing we want to do is arrest anyone for trespass.”Bethlehem Police Chief Michelle Kott
According to minutes from Bethlehem City Council’s May 6 meeting, Monocacy Homeowners Association President Elizabeth Krail-Pizarro, who lives near the land in question, spoke on her neighborhood’s concerns.
Krail-Pizarro said encampment trash, fire hazards, safety and what could be decreasing property values at hand for her and dozens of her neighbors.
The city’s Community Connections program — a joint effort from city police, Health Bureau staff and other local partners — works to help people in the encampment with their “unmet social service needs,” such as assistance with mental health troubles and substance abuse, Kott said.
“We’ve been going down every single week, multiple times, to try to help people and connect them with services,” Kott said.
“Being able to have from September to December has really given us time to try to go down there and rely on the relationships we have been building.
“The last thing we want to do is arrest anyone for trespass.”
The chief said the department is discouraging people from moving to nearby city-owned properties, including an especially hilly and “very unsafe” area east of the Fahy Bridge.
However, she said her officers are not currently having anyone vacate that property if they’re already there.
'Proud of the partnerships'
LehighValleyNews.com requested more information from Norfolk Southern on how the displacement request came about.
A railroad spokesperson said in an emailed statement:
“Ensuring the safety of all members of our community is a top priority, and rail property can be a uniquely dangerous place due to active rail traffic and limited visibility.
“We’re proud of the partnerships we have in the community as we all work together to find solutions.”Norfolk Southern spokesperson
“Out of concern for the wellbeing and safety of those affected, we are working with local community organizations to connect individuals with housing solutions to ensure they have a warm place to stay out of the elements this winter and to eliminate the safety risk posed by encampments located on rail property.”
The railroad spokesperson said to date in 2025, Norfolk Southern has donated $35,000 through its Thriving Communities Grant program to benefit New Bethany Inc. and Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering Inc.
Those local organizations "support those affected by housing insecurity in the Bethlehem area,” the spokesperson said.
“We’re proud of the partnerships we have in the community as we all work together to find solutions,” the spokesperson said.
'Rather unnerving'
Jennifer McDermott, a Bethlehem resident and local volunteer and administrator with Bethlehem, PA Blessing Boxes Facebook group, said she's not persuaded by the progress reports from city and railroad officials.
She said she hopes to be back out helping those in need again at her next opportunity.
"I truly believe they have no intention on doing anything helpful for these folks," McDermott said.
“We all try to live in community, right? But for our folks outdoors, it doesn’t always work that way.”Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering Executive Director Bob Rapp
In PBS39’s recent “A Community Conversation: The Cost of Home,” BES Executive Director Bob Rapp called the situation “rather unnerving,” as it leaves folks with limited options moving forward.
“They’re used to being together; they look out for one another,” Rapp said.
“We all try to live in community, right? But for our folks outdoors, it doesn’t always work that way.”
BES is working with “a pretty hard and fast” 70 beds, he said.
The shelter averaged 65 people a night last year.
