NJ’s Camden homeless allowed to remain in Tent City _ for now
By APThursday, April 15, 2010
NJ’s Tent City remains _ for now
CAMDEN, N.J. — Officials in Camden, N.J., have backed off a plan to close the community’s so-called Tent City, where homeless people have lived and governed themselves for the last four years.
Camden County officials had previously called for residents to be off the premises by Thursday. But county community development director Gino Lewis now says the remaining 30 residents won’t be forcibly removed. He said his department and social service agencies will try to find homes for them.
Officials objected to the makeshift encampment because they said it was unsafe and unsanitary. Tent City is wedged in woods between a highway off-ramp and train tracks. At times, about 100 people have lived there.
Tent City founder Lorenzo Banks says he hopes to find homes for the remaining Tent City residents by July 1.
