A controversial tent camp for people experiencing homelessness in Wilmington is set to be shut down early next week.
The city insists the program was a success and says it was never meant to be a permanent solution. Others, however, say the plan was flawed and are concerned about what might come next.
All of the tents in Christina Park, many of which were set up by the city, and the people staying in them, are expected to leave next week.
“A lot of mental health down here, a lot of poverty, unresolved childhood issues. It needs to be resolved before you can move forward in your life,” Perry Davis of Wilmington said.
After a task force came up with ideas on how Wilmington should address homelessness, the city made the tent camp in Christina Park a centerpiece of the plan. Wilmington contracted with a nonprofit organization and brought services to people staying there.
City officials said many people who stayed at the encampment are now living at New Castle County’s Hope Center or in local hotels using vouchers. Others, however, are still living in the park and, in some cases, do not want to leave.
“You have a large populous here and they need to be taken care of, you know? These are humans too and they’re down on their luck and as government we should be able to come together and figure this out. It shouldn’t be this difficult,” New Castle County Council member David Tackett said.
Wilmington Mayor John Carney said addressing homelessness is easier said than done and expensive. He acknowledged the rollout of the tent camp plan was not perfect, but said the results were positive and the city’s intentions were good.
“It’s kind of a moral obligation to do what we can and that’s the way we’ve approached it,” Carney said.
The mayor said the encampment was always intended to be temporary, adding that neighbors in the area want their park back.
Wilmington City Council unanimously passed a resolution opposing the plan to clear the encampment next week, but Carney said it will move forward.
What happens on June 15 and what it means for the people still trying to camp in Christina Park remains to be seen.
“If they don’t want this then they’ve got to do something about this. These are Delaware residents,” Corey Smith, who was formerly homeless, said.
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC Philadelphia. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC Philadelphia journalist edited the article for publication.