Homeless Folks & Liberty Lands

[MarcG]

It appears that all of a sudden a good number of homeless folks have taken to Liberty Lands. From folks laying out on blankets near the stage to what appears to be makeshift tents made using picnic tables.

Is it true that there is a curfew? I could not find anything online http://www.nlna.org/liberty-lands-2/ about one. Just curious.

[hknewbie]

I noticed that today too, while walking the dog. The two couples there look like they've setled in for the long haul.

[orlandopita]

I photographed 4 delinquent boys trying to steal their cart with old school TV and pipes in it tonight. When they realized I was taking their pic in the act, they stopped and ran off toward American. The cart is now sitting on it's side near American St.

[Chris]

I photographed 4 delinquent boys trying to steal their cart with old school TV and pipes in it tonight. When they realized I was taking their pic in the act, they stopped and ran off toward American. The cart is now sitting on it's side near American St.

can you post the picture of the felons-in-training?

[carpetbagger]

some months ago, i saw a man sleeping in the stone fire pit. it has since been filled with plants/flowers.

[seth]

This has been an issue, and the people who manage the park have been trying to deal with it. The official park policy is that the park is closed at night, with exception given to movies, music festivals, and other approved events, all of which can be found on the calender at the NLNA site. Campers have been asked to leave (and for the most part have), and the police have been called to escort sleeping people out several times this season. That said, the police rarely ever do more than drive by the park, so if there is someone camped out, please call 911 and make a complaint, and/ or email one of the park contacts, and we will respond. There is almost always someone on the park steering committee available to help deal with these things.

[Scottcn6423]

Thanks Seth.

[RSR]

Project Home Street Outreach program may be helpful as well:

http://www.projecthome.org/services/hou ... treach.php

Street Outreach

If you see a homeless person living on the streets, please call our Homeless Outreach Hotline at 215-232-1984.

If you are client in need of services, please call 1-877-222-1984.

Project H.O.M.E.'s Continuum of Care, our strategy to enable individuals to break the cycle of homelessness by providing housing and services, begins with street outreach.

Project H.O.M.E.'s Outreach Coordination Center (OCC), in partnership with the City and other service providers, coordinates outreach to people living on the streets of Philadelphia. The OCC reaches out to over 2,200 unduplicated individuals annually.

Outreach response workers build trusting relationships that enable individuals who are homeless to accept placement in appropriate settings where they may obtain needed opportunities to stabilize their lives. The outreach teams attempt to establish a rapport that gradually leads to acceptance and openness to seeking help. Outreach teams conduct street outreach almost around the clock seven days per week, with additional teams out during summer and winter weather emergencies.

For more information, please contact Carol Thomas, Program Director, 215-232-7272 x3004.

[ArcticSplash]

I wonder if the shortage of beds situation at HOME's shelter over on Fairmount Ave that some of them are choosing to chill in LL.

[NLPetLover]

On Saturday night, around 8 pm, I got approached by a woman who came out from behind the sign at 3rd and Wildey, asking me for a cigarette. When I said I did not smoke, she then asked for money, and then got testy. I then heard a man yell at her, and the voice was coming from behind the stage.

The next day, when walking my dog, I saw the same woman on the other side of the stage, sitting on that little stoned ledge right off of Wildey. She was sitting there with a man, who I am guessing is who was yelling at her the previous night. The woman appears young, late teens or early 20's. It was hard to tell the man's age because he had a pretty full beard.

Please be aware of your surroundings. It is now dark out around 8 pm. I am not sure what the woman's intentions were, but the fact that she was hiding when I walked past frightens me. It appears that they hide out around the stage at night until the coast is clear, and then set up to sleep at night.

[janetf]

Nlpetlover, thank you for posting that.

The couple to whom you refer have been around for a while, despite a fair number of efforts to get them to move on. They are not welcome, and they are not, to my way of thinking, harmless, if only because they are regular drug users. Please be careful in any interaction with them.

Liberty Lands is privately owned by the community, and these two have been told by park organizers and by the police that they may NOT be at the park. If you see them, it's appropriate to call 911 and say just that, asking that police come and move them along. We are also pursuing Project HOME's help.

Please do let the park organizers know any information -- or suggestions! -- you might have. You can reach us at park@nlna. org

Thanks.
Janet

[Kent]

Are there any pictures of this specific couple? I saw a couple there on Sunday that sort of matches that description.

At various times, I've noticed a couple of different homeless people napping on the bench by the smaller play set under the trees during the day, I assume they're more or less free to hang out in the park during the day, but wasn't sure.

[seth]

The woman looks to be 25-30, 5' to 5'4', shoulder length dyed blond hair with dark roots growing in, maybe 130 lbs. The guy is 30ish, 5'6"?, medium brown hair that might be slightly reddish, scruffy facial hair, with a stocky build.

[Diogenes]

It looks like they've turned the sukkah into their campsite. There's a blanket in there and it reeks.