The city of Huntsville tries to maintain a firm direction in relation to the growing homeless community, and follows a progressive approach to reopen the campsite in the Derrick Street near the city center.
Scott Erwin, director of the city's Community Development ARM, led Reporters on a tour of the soon opened, restructured location, which was closed in 2024 by a harmful fire. The Camp of South Derrick Street has been improved to improve security for the residents of the camp.
The improvements take into account concerns that were expressed by unshakable persons during the hearing sessions of the community development department and the city's Continuum (COC).
“If you remember last autumn and the fire, the conditions of the camp were extremely dangerous and unsanitary due to the fire,” said Erwin. “So the city entered to find out exactly what we can do.
“In the past few months, the city has worked hard to improve the security of the occupants of the camp. And I would like to sincerely thank the Department of Public Work for the City of Huntsville, Landscape Management, Parks and Recommendation and HPD. In my departments in the city to bring ourselves where we are today, they are spent today. '
The new location has a data protection fence for increased security and a 12 × 12 sketched network system, which represents 84 individual rooms to provide structured living areas. Each room is equipped with a 10 × 10 tent, which is anchored on a platform to keep the items from the ground and deliver the anchor for the tents. A new input was created for access to the emergency vehicle.
“Security and security were consistently the two best concerns that we identified from the people living in the camp,” said Erwin.
Possible tenants have to register to get apartments in the warehouse. The municipal development informed former occupants about the steps required for participation, including the new community standards that must be signed by each individual. The new standards will help to maintain the order and ensure that the camp remains a safe, safe and sanitary and respectful place for everyone, where everyone can temporarily live here. ''
Representatives of organizations that help to make the constant living spaces of the unbelievers contribute to constant living spaces at the press event. Among the speech were representatives of First Stop, Coc, Family Services Center and Catholic charity organizations.
“Outreach is a central part of the first station and our mission to support our historic neighbors, and with the support of the city and the advanced steps that they have taken to mitigate the environmental security and health problems that have existed in the warehouse, we hope that our case managers will be able to be more involved and help our friends in need and sustainable long-term living Support the city with the support of the city in the city. ”
Either individuals or people with a significant other is accommodated in each tent. Fences offer security and the tents are anchored on the following concrete platform. An old sheet metal building next to the camp is implemented so that residents can access access to drinking water when showering, a mobile device.
Portable potty is too mobile in terms of sanitary facilities, and a standing toilet can invite a predatory or inappropriate behavior. The city still weighs the options for the trash of the camp.
“We have an agency that has on site near a portable bathroom furnishings and we will see how it works,” said Erwin. “The water access will be very soon. ''
As Erwin emphasized, the goal of the camp is a temporary solution.
“Our goal for everyone in the warehouse is a way to be accommodated permanently,” said Erwin. “Today we have some of our organizations that can lead to it.
