D.C. and the National Parks Service (NPS) each closed one encampment during the week of Aug. 19, affecting at least three residents. NPS closed the two-person encampment in Foggy Bottom six days ahead of the scheduled closure, according to a sign posted in the area.
On Aug. 20, D.C. Office of the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services (DMHHS) officials closed a one-person encampment at 23rd and E Street in Northwest D.C., by the bridge above the E Street Expressway. The resident was not at the site when two DMHHS personnel and one Department of Human Services employee arrived to clear the area, though they appeared to have used a bike lock to fasten their tent to the side of the bridge.
A Community Bridge Inc. employee used Pinalen to disinfect the ground around the tent and side of the bridge before DMHHS employees snapped the tent rods and removed the tent from the bridge poles.
Representatives from Miriam’s Kitchen and The Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless watched the closure and looked out for the resident, though they did not show up. The city has closed the encampment before, most recently on April 18.
On Aug. 23, NPS officials closed a homeless encampment at 26th and L Streets, displacing two residents six days before the date posted on a sign in the middle of the park, saying the encampment would be closed on Aug. 29. Eight NPS personnel arrived at around 9:30 a.m. to conduct the cleanup.
NPS did not respond to request for comment.
The sign states the land is “closed to camping,” and violating the rule is illegal. “We ask for and appreciate the public’s cooperation,” the sign reads.
Miriam’s Kitchen staff helped one resident relocate their belongings to the other side of L Street, which DMHHS was scheduled to clear on Aug. 27, and packed the other person’s belongings into a car so the person could relocate to another part of the city. Both encampment residents declined to speak to Street Sense.
Upcoming encampment clearings include: Aug. 28 at 1 Thomas Circle, Sept. 3 at 21st and E Streets NW, Sept. 4 at 1410 15th St. NW, Sept. 5 at the underpass of 695/395, Sept. 10 at the 1st and C St NW tunnel, Sept. 11 at 9th and Mt. Olivet Road NE, Sept. 12 at 1436 U St. NW, and Sept. 17 at 1828 L St. NW.
