BLOOMINGTON — Violence, concerns of nearby residents, a county no-camping ordinance and a new state law that prohibits homeless people from sleeping on public land are behind an eviction notice recently posted at a Bloomington camp.
Dozens of people living in a wooded area on the site of the former RCA/Thomson television factory have until Sept. 1 to clear out. Some have established campsites where they have lived for years.
Monroe County commissioners in July gave their attorney approval to post eviction notices if conditions at the camp warranted action. Prior to this notice, Bloomington police had not arrested or evicted anyone under the state law that took effect July 1 banning sleeping in outdoor public spaces.
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The camp is next to Osage Place, a Habitat for Humanity neighborhood that has 30 houses and more under construction. Recent complaints from Osage Place residents about thefts, aggressive behavior, food solicitations, dogs on the loose and more, followed by an Aug. 5 fight accompanied by a report of possible gunshots in the camp, set the county eviction plan in motion.
In an Aug. 6 statement to supporters, Habitat’s director said the agency was aware of the homeless camp when home building started in 2021.
“For years, we encountered no significant issues with the people living in the encampment. However, that has changed as its population has grown,” the Habitat statement said.
Habitat staff and volunteers working on an Osage Place house called 911 on Aug. 5 when they heard gunshots fired in the camp and then saw several men in a brawl near the construction site. Police couldn’t locate the people involved and have increased patrols in the area.
“The problems at the encampment, and their effects on surrounding neighborhoods, have reached a critical turning point,” the Habitat statement said.
Habitat’s statement acknowledges the plight of the homeless while standing up for their clients who are establishing homes.
“We remain committed to supporting compassionate, long-term solutions that connect people with stable housing, mental health resources, and support services. Our concerns are centered on documented public safety issues affecting the Osage Place neighborhood.”
The statement asks people to contact local elected officials to ask for “increased public safety efforts in and around the Thomson property.”
The Thomson homeless camp is on 80 acres the county bought two decades ago for a juvenile detention center that was never built. It’s currently one of several possible sites for a new Monroe County Jail.
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FPI News reporter Laura Lane covers the people and issues of rural Indiana. Reach her at 812-760-1540 or laura.lane@fpinews.org.
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