Forbes said another state law was tacked onto a measure relating to agri-tourism earlier this year. It came about after a dozen or so meetings between those who work with the homeless, the Department of Transportation, Greenville County Code Enforcement and the Norfolk Southern Railway. The discussion revolved around what to do with Tent City. Codes, DOT and the railroad wanted it out from under the bridge. Robin Chapman, a spokesman for the railroad, said, “The proximity of the ‘tent city’ to active railroad tracks near the Pete Hollis Boulevard bridge makes this a public safety concern for Norfolk Southern. The railroad right-of-way is private property, so it is both illegal and dangerous for individuals to be on the property.” He said the railroad police department patrols regularly, moving tents and occasionally making arrests. It has occurred repeatedly in the 22 states the railroad operates in, he said. A year ago, the Upstate Homeless Coaltion members talked about creating a humane place with running water and toilets as Tampa and Sacramento have done. “It can be a viable way of solving housing problems,” said Chesser. “Is it what Greenville needs? Passions run high on both sides. It’s not a tame issue.” Miracle Hill’s Lehman was one who fought the idea vigorously. He said legalizing Tent City and not having expectations from the residents won’t work. “They may not be cold, but they’ll still be broken,” he said. When told of the idea of creating a more permanent camp, Greenville Mayor Knox White said, “I’ve never heard of such a thing. I can’t conceive of that.” He doesn’t believe such an arrangement would ever be approved in Greenville. Earlier this year, the General Assembly made it illegal to live under a bridge for more than 48 hours, a law Sheriff Steve Loftis said he considers unenforceable. “They deserve to be in a better place,” said SHARE’s Forbes. Everyone is a lost job or a serious illness away from homelessness if they don’t have a support network, he said. “We need to treat people as people,” he said. “Lifting people up, everybody wins.”
Posted on: Thu, 07 Nov 2013 18:25:30 +0000
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