\u201cWhen they see us down there, they will put everybody in the same category, whether we do drugs or not. I, myself, am a college student. I work four jobs right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Destiny of Bethlehem<\/p>\n
The land in question includes about 4.5 acres on either side of the Hill-to-Hill Bridge and State Route 378 in Lehigh County, as well as more than 17 acres at Sand Island Park, Fahy Bridge and more land to the east and past Stefko Boulevard, in both Lehigh and Northampton counties.<\/p>\n
Norfolk Southern also offered assistance in finding resources for those displaced.<\/p>\n
The company’s police department cited “significant health and safety concerns” on site.<\/p>\n
“Apparently I exist because I\u2019m here. I\u2019m alive,\u201d Schew said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not a bum \u2014 far from it. I work harder now than I ever did before.\u201d<\/p>\n
Destiny, another member of the encampment, said, \u201cWhen they see us down there, they will put everybody in the same category, whether we do drugs or not.<\/p>\n
\u201cI, myself, am a college student. I work four jobs right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Bethlehem](\"https:\/\/static.lehigh-v.lehigh-valley.production.k1.m1.brightspot.cloud\/dims4\/default\/17e21ba\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/4032x2268+0+0\/resize\/880x495!\/quality\/90\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flehigh-valley-brightspot.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2F13%2Fdd%2F45763498460781315cd06595ed12%2Fimg-8625.jpg\")
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Will Oliver<\/p>\n
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LehighValleyNews.com<\/p>\n
Norfolk Southern railroad company, as of Aug. 25, 2025, has requested Bethlehem police assistance in \u201cfacilitating the removal\u201d of an estimated 30 people living in tents along 22 acres near the Lehigh River. Shown above is an encampment with more than a dozen tents just east of The Wooden Match restaurant at 61 W. Lehigh St. in Bethlehem.<\/p>\n
Officials: Have met challenges in stride<\/p>\n
Marc Rittle, executive director for New Bethany Inc. at Fourth and Wyandotte streets in South Bethlehem, said there\u2019s already forward momentum happening behind the scenes in his nonprofit\u2019s work.<\/p>\n
A resident of the community for more than 20 years, Rittle said Bethlehem is \u201creally good at coming together in a crisis\u201d such as the present case \u2014 as more than 30 people will be affected by the camp breaking up, according to a recent figure from the city.<\/p>\n
“A solution will be a combination of efforts, including dollars and space for temporary housing, resources for behavioral health services and really a whole lot more than that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marc Rittle, executive director for New Bethany Inc. in South Bethlehem<\/p>\n
\u201cWe already know quite a bit about the population that we serve, so I consider that good news, and puts us ahead of the game in terms of coming up with a plan,\u201d Rittle said.<\/p>\n
He called the railroad\u2019s decision \u201cunfortunate\u201d but appreciated at least some time to plan what\u2019s next.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe also know that each person has a different barrier to finding shelter, finding a home,” he said. <\/p>\n
“So a solution will be a combination of efforts, including dollars and space for temporary housing, resources for behavioral health services and really a whole lot more than that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s all on the table as far as what those potential options are.\u201d <\/p>\n
Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds <\/p>\n
Bethlehem officials said the city\u2019s Community Connections program, which dates to 2020 and pairs social workers and police officers with people in need, will keep on the gas.<\/p>\n
And discussions will remain underway for what\u2019s next for Bethlehem, its social service organizations and the people in question.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s all on the table as far as what those potential options are,\u201d Mayor J. William Reynolds said.<\/p>\n
![\"Norfolk](\"https:\/\/static.lehigh-v.lehigh-valley.production.k1.m1.brightspot.cloud\/dims4\/default\/a1af790\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/4032x2268+0+0\/resize\/880x495!\/quality\/90\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flehigh-valley-brightspot.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2F7a%2F32%2F3c3391d441e6b3dba19e890e1c0c%2Fimg-8635-1.jpg\")
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Will Oliver<\/p>\n
\/<\/p>\n
LehighValleyNews.com<\/p>\n
Norfolk Southern railroad company, as of Aug. 25, 2025, has requested Bethlehem police assistance in \u201cfacilitating the removal\u201d of an estimated 30 people living in tents along 22 acres near the Lehigh River.<\/p>\n
‘Find space, both physically and bureaucratically’<\/p>\n
Forty-seven people came by for assistance across two of Community Connections’ recent Coordinated Assistance Resource Events, bringing multiple services to one location, according to Kristen Wenrich, health director with Bethlehem Health Bureau.<\/p>\n
Officials have said there are 91 people experiencing homelessness across the city.<\/p>\n
Here is City Council discussing<\/a> the Norfolk Southern request.<\/p>\n Councilwoman Colleen Laird called for a \u201cholistic\u201d look at the possibilities moving forward.<\/p>\n Brian Hillard with Serving to Aid and Restore, or S.T.A.R.<\/a>, previously known as Helping Bethlehem\u2019s Homeless, said the city \u201cneeds to find space, both physically and bureaucratically, to give our neighbors spaces to live.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSome of the clients that have come through our doors have been some of the most wonderful people I\u2019ve ever met,\u201d Hillard said.<\/p>\n \u201cThese people come from all walks of life, and I would argue that every single one of them has had experiences and life thrust upon them that ultimately led to their current situation.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re kind and considerate people, and they\u2019re just looking to survive. They\u2019re just looking to exist, just looking to be.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy heart goes out to these people \u2014 every day.”<\/p>\n Richard Moser, who volunteers at a food bank across from his home in Bethlehem<\/p>\n Richard Moser, a city resident who volunteers at a food bank across from his home, said he knows and has served people living in the affected area.<\/p>\n He recommended at least moving the eviction date to summertime so people aren\u2019t left with nowhere to go just on the verge of winter.<\/p>\n It also would offer them more time and decent weather to find somewhere else to stay, Moser said.<\/p>\n \u201cMy heart goes out to these people \u2014 every day,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Donna S. Fisher <\/p>\n \/<\/p>\n For LehighValleyNews.com<\/p>\n This is the Star of Bethlehem atop South Mountain in Bethlehem, Pa.. Picture made in February, 2023. <\/p>\n ‘What would you do?’<\/p>\n In an interview with LehighValleyNews.com<\/a>, Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering<\/a> Executive Director Bob Rapp said the overnight facility will open Nov. 1 with a \u201chard-and-fast\u201d 70 beds.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat would you do if you were told that less than [X amount of] days from now, you had to move out of the housing that you currently have, and there\u2019s no place for you to go?”<\/p>\n Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering Executive Director Bob Rapp<\/p>\n \u201cWhat would you do if you were told that less than [X amount of] days from now, you had to move out of the housing that you currently have, and there\u2019s no place for you to go?” Rapp said.<\/p>\n “What would you do? And that\u2019s where we\u2019re at for a lot of folks.\u201d<\/p>\n Rapp is the pastor at Christ Church UCC in Bethlehem, 75 E. Market St., where the shelter operates alongside S.T.A.R.<\/p>\n He said BES averaged 65 guests per night last season, and space likely will fill up fast on opening day depending on the weather.<\/p>\n More than 85% of those served by BES \u201chave grown up here, have gone to school here, have raised families here,\u201d Rapp said.<\/p>\n The shelter has seen increasing populations in the age ranges of 18-29 and 50-59. They\u2019re often starting from scratch, even when they have a job, he said.<\/p>\n Last year, 109 people experiencing homelessness for the first time came by the shelter for assistance, Rapp said.<\/p>\n “This growing trend could just mean we\u2019re just going to continuously move folks around \u2014 and we\u2019re already starting to see that.\u201d<\/p>\n Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering Executive Director Bob Rapp<\/p>\n![\"Star](\"https:\/\/static.lehigh-v.lehigh-valley.production.k1.m1.brightspot.cloud\/dims4\/default\/e7bfb90\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3600x2025+0+0\/resize\/880x495!\/quality\/90\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flehigh-valley-brightspot.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Ff7%2Ff5%2Fff09394e44adab00fe9177b72cb6%2F022023-bethlehem-star-south-mountain1.JPG\")
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