ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The City of Allentown is getting ready to clear out another homeless encampment over safety concerns.

Just behind the wall in Allentown’s Fountain Park is a tent neighborhood. It’s known as “Lower Allentown”, a place Hank calls home.

“We’ve been here for over a year, had no problems,” said Hank, who only wanted to be identified by his first name.

He told 69 News people take pride in their living spaces, adding house numbers and even mailboxes.

“That’s got a door, a doorbell, another tent on the other side,” Hank explained.

But last Friday, Hank said they got an unwelcome visit.

“Police said we have to be out of here, that we have to be out of here by Monday, 10 days,” said Hank.

City Councilwoman Ce-Ce Gerlach said that’s not enough time.

“If I were a renter, I would receive 30 days notification before I would be evicted,” said Gerlach.

And she said it’s happening at a time when a major shelter is about to close for the season.

“The YMCA is closing early, so we’ve got 80 people who will be sent out to fend for themselves with no place to go, no support,” Gerlach explained.

Gerlach is planning to introduce a resolution at the City Council meeting Wednesday to give a little support. It calls for the City to pay for hotel rooms for people, and to find them a place where they can live in a tent legally.

“We might be approaching up to a million dollars in removing people from their homes. Just imagine if we took that same million dollars and put it toward actually helping people and housing people,” said Gerlach. “Find a place for folks to go. We have to stop pushing people along with no stability, no solutions.”

The City responded to 69 News in a statement, saying in part:

“The encampment near Fountain Park is located within a floodplain, which poses a life safety risk to those living there… The City will continue working closely with community partners to connect individuals with available shelter.”

But Hank said he’s not likely to end up in a shelter.

“We’ll probably go to another spot that we’re going to get kicked out of later. So, it’s going to be an ongoing process,” said Hank.