NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tensions ran high at Tuesday’s Parks and Recreation meeting, following the boards announcement to close the city’s homeless camp.
Officials announced that one of the city’s largest homeless camp will be closed by September 15.
It is a decision director, Tommy Lynch, has toiled over for the last year or so. However, citing recent safety concerns from visitors to the Adventure Science Center, he said it was a decision that could no longer be delayed.
"It's a complex, deep issue. Parks and Recreation is not the answer though for the homeless situation," Lynch said.
Two dozen people packed the meeting on Tuesday, most either lived at the tent city or were advocates for Nashville's homeless population.
"It's sickening to know we have leaders in this city that do this, it's real sickening," said advocate Angela Smith. "If it's something to improve the city, who cares if they have to move the homeless out? That's how they see it," she added.
According to advocates, some 800 homeless residents currently have vouchers for low income housing in Nashville but there are not enough locations to accommodate them, let alone the two dozen people who will be displaced when overnight camping is no longer allowed at the tent city.
"Every time a camp is disrupted they're just moved into another illegal encampment and considered illegal," one woman told the board.
Board members did allow for another discussion of the issue next week, but more than likely won't change the September 15 eviction date.
