City puts the brakes on overnight campers
- April 22, 2015
- / Mollye Barrows
- / community-dashboard
There are new "No Overnight Parking" signs up at the foot of the Pensacola Bay Bridge, a reminder that camping at city parks is prohibited. More than half a dozen people regularly park their vehicles at Wayside Park. Some panhandle for money at nearby intersections.
"We are not trying to push anybody out," said City Administrator Eric Olson, "but this is public property and overnight camping is not allowed."
City leaders say they've been receiving complaints about the overnight campers and the panhandling that often accompanies their stay. Pensacola police warned campers Tuesday that they would start enforcing the existing overnight parking ban, starting Monday, April 27.
"If they're violating the ordinance we'll tell them to leave," said Police Chief Chip Simmons. "We're going to do our best not to arrest them, but ultimately they will face arrest if they don't listen. That's why we're giving them four to five days notice."
A group of 7 to 11 people, including individuals and couples, regularly stay at the bridge, sleeping outside or in their vehicles. Some, like 70-year-old Gary Miller, have been here for years.
"I moved to Pensacola in 1985," said Miller, standing outside his van. "I'm from Alaska and I got this wild hair that I wanted to catch a fish in every state."
He enjoys fishing at the foot of the bridge and lives off his social security, which is less than $800 a month. Miller, a veteran, says staying in his van allows him an affordable way to survive. He has been camping at the Pensacola Bay Bridge for five years.
"I'll stay here as long as I can. I'll fish on the pier all night and come over here and sleep during the day," said Miller.
Mike Kimberl is co-founder of Sean's Outpost Homeless Outreach. He delivers food and other necessitities to homeless throughout Pensacola and Escambia County and knows most of those who camp at the bridge by name. Kimberl met with city leaders to ask if there is another place for the homeless campers to go.
"My solution is that I'm going to end up moving them someplace that's illegal," Kimberl said, "and the city will get complaints about that too. You are perpetrating the problem by moving them around and it may now take longer to get them off the streets."
Both city leaders and homeless advocates agree there needs to be a long term solution to homelessness, an issue that is bigger than any one agency or outreach service.
"We have a lot of different perspectives on homelessness," said Olson. "We need a community solution."
A group of 7 to 11 people, including individuals and couples, regularly stay at the bridge, sleeping outside or in their vehicles. Some, like 70-year-old Gary Miller, have been here for years.
"I moved to Pensacola in 1985," said Miller, standing outside his van. "I'm from Alaska and I got this wild hair that I wanted to catch a fish in every state."
He enjoys fishing at the foot of the bridge and lives off his social security, which is less than $800 a month. Miller, a veteran, says staying in his van allows him an affordable way to survive. He has been camping at the Pensacola Bay Bridge for five years.
"I'll stay here as long as I can. I'll fish on the pier all night and come over here and sleep during the day," said Miller.
Mike Kimberl is co-founder of Sean's Outpost Homeless Outreach. He delivers food and other necessitities to homeless throughout Pensacola and Escambia County and knows most of those who camp at the bridge by name. Kimberl met with city leaders to ask if there is another place for the homeless campers to go.
"My solution is that I'm going to end up moving them someplace that's illegal," Kimberl said, "and the city will get complaints about that too. You are perpetrating the problem by moving them around and it may now take longer to get them off the streets."
Both city leaders and homeless advocates agree there needs to be a long term solution to homelessness, an issue that is bigger than any one agency or outreach service.
"We have a lot of different perspectives on homelessness," said Olson. "We need a community solution."
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