Kensington Homeless, Opioid Camps Cleared Out Wednesday

PHILADELPHIA – The City of Philadelphia met its self-imposed May 30 deadline to clear out homeless camps in the Kensington area, known to be high-drug use camps for mostly opioid users.

The two camps at Tulip Street and Kensington Avenue were cleared out Wednesday by crews from various city institutions, including Homeless Outreach, police, and sanitation departments.

In a release on the camp clearings, the city said the camps "posed a health and safety threat to those who stay there as well as to the neighbors" in the area.

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"We have never seen a crisis like this before in Philadelphia and doing nothing is not an option," said Managing Director Michael DiBerardinis. "We are happy with the preliminary results. We provided respite housing for over 100 people and saw more people enter treatment in the first two weeks of the pilot than in the prior six months; however we have more work to do."

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Prior to Wednesday's effort, the city posted notices in English, Spanish and Vietnamese at the two encampments and other designated areas announcing the camps' permanent closing.

The 24th and 25th Police Districts issued citations to those who refused to remove their belongings during Wednesday's effort. Any personal property left behind was removed by the city and will be stored for six weeks.

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While the city said this is a step toward combating the opioid epidemic, critics say the camps were better for drug users than having them live in smaller groups or alone.

Philly.com reports protesters Wednesday said closing the camps without establishing safe injection sites could lead to increased overdoses, as the camps are home to experienced users and have access to Narcan – the opioid-overdose-reversing drug.

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Those living in the camps either took the city up on its offer to stay in shelters or headed out to find another place to stay, likely on the streets.

City officials said since the plan to clear the camps was announced, more than 120 people accepted services, about 50 people entered treatment; and more than 24 people got ID cards, which nearly half of those surveyed said kept them from leaving the camps.

"We cannot-and don’t want to arrest our way out of the problems surrounding opioid addiction," Philadelphia Police Inspector Ray Convery said. "We are glad to support the outreach work being done to dismantle the encampments near Lehigh Avenue while cleaning paths for people to get help battle their addiction."

Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images