BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Norfolk Southern railroad police and Bethlehem police stood watch on Monday as an excavator razed part of a homeless encampment along the Lehigh River.
Personal belongings were gathered in piles at a snowy trailhead just east of The Wooden Match restaurant on West Lehigh Street — a clearing along an abandoned rail line once home to dozens of tents.
Just a few appeared to remain standing as of the morning’s displacement amid frigid conditions.
In August, property owner Norfolk Southern sent its request for city police assistance in “facilitating the removal” of the homeless encampment because of safety concerns and fire hazards.
'Move with discernment'
A man who identified himself only as Julius, 32, said he’s lived in the area “on and off” for three years but now plans to head back home to New Jersey.
He was helping a friend pack up their things.
After his ID was stolen, Julius said, it’s been “kind of an uphill battle” as he’s currently between jobs.
For himself and others of the encampment, he said the homeless population is “always in a state of flux,” and there are a variety of reasons any particular person could find themselves in a similar situation.
Ending up behind on rent, medical bills piling up, or even falling on hard times as a whole — he said there usually is more to a homeless person’s backstory than some of the general public may believe.
“Some of us, life got in the way," Julius said. "We got really unlucky, and we didn’t have a backup plan.
“And then there are others who got in the way of their own lives and got too comfortable with whatever our vices were, and it caught up to us eventually.
“So just move with discernment because everyone has a story.”
'More intimate relationship'
That doesn’t mean crime doesn’t happen in the area, he said. He said he’s seen some others “blatantly pollute” the nearby canal or use drugs in plain sight, for instance.
“The problem is that from the outside looking in with people who have never experienced homelessness, sometimes when they witness the bad, it becomes the defining term for the overall populace."Julius, 32
“But the problem is that from the outside looking in with people who have never experienced homelessness, sometimes when they witness the bad, it becomes the defining term for the overall populace,” Julius said.
“So the actions of a few can weigh heavy consequences for the rest of us because of that.
"There are some, unfortunately, which is the main reason why we’re being asked to leave, who kind of don’t take into consideration that they’re not the only person here.”
Julius said he’s personally experienced city officials and others — such as workers with the Community Connections partnership of Bethlehem Health Bureau and city police active at the encampment — approach the situation with nuance as needed.
The health bureau, for example, had its mobile community health clinic nearby for folks in need.
But Julius said he’d like to see more social service workers involved who have “a more intimate relationship” with homelessness.
'Issues of homelessness are complex'
Benay Berger, city Health Bureau director of nursing and Community Connections, said her team has been at the encampment “almost daily,” especially in recent months.
As the encampment sprawls more than 20 acres along the Lehigh River, she said officials may be working to clear the land for a couple of weeks.
“We want you to know if you don’t want to be down here or you don’t want to be in an unsafe situation, we are going to help you get out of that situation.”Benay Berger, city Health Bureau director of nursing and Community Connections
Nine or so individuals were in the immediate area Monday to move their belongings.
“We’re just here to make sure that anyone who wants to take any kind of services knows that we’re right here,” Berger said.
“We want you to know if you don’t want to be down here or you don’t want to be in an unsafe situation, we are going to help you get out of that situation.”
Substance abuse and mental health services are most common for the Bethlehem encampment, she said.
“I feel bad. I especially came here just to check them out and help them any way I can.”Farid Ahmad, ambassador for Humanity First USA
“The issues of homelessness are complex, and that’s why, I think, no one in the world has solved it yet,” Berger said.
For those interested in helping the cause, she recommended donating directly to area groups working to end poverty, hunger and homelessness.
They include New Bethany, Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering and Lehigh Conference of Churches, to name a few.
Farid Ahmad, ambassador for Humanity First USA, brought coffee and gloves for folks, and even offered a LehighValleyNews.com reporter a pair.
“I feel bad,” Ahmad said of the displacement. “I especially came here just to check them out and help them any way I can.”
'Rely on the relationships'
A railroad spokesperson told LehighValleyNews.com the displacement protects those individuals living close to rail lines.
“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," the spokesperson said.
“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.”
As of November, Norfolk Southern had donated $35,000 through its Thriving Communities Grant program to benefit New Bethany Inc. and Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering Inc.
Bethlehem Police Chief Michelle Kott has said the displacement was sparked mostly by citizen complaints.
But she said officials luckily were given a few months to come up with what’s next.
“The last thing we want to do is arrest anyone for trespass.”Bethlehem Police Chief Michelle Kott
“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,” Kott said last month.
“The last thing we want to do is arrest anyone for trespass.”
Some city officials, such as Mayor J. William Reynolds, have said finding a solution to homelessness falls on the entire Lehigh Valley, as the issue knows no borders.
Reynolds has said that leaves major municipalities, including Bethlehem, typically with more social-service resources on hand compared with smaller areas of the region, to handle the brunt of it as people make their way to the cities for assistance.
Berger said she’s met people at the encampment who hail from as far away as California, but also New York and other parts of Pennsylvania.
