DOWNTOWN CINCINNATI (FOX19) - The breakdown of the homeless camp at Third and Plum streets is underway in downtown Cincinnati.
It must be vacated by 8 a.m. Wednesday when the city will begin a cleanup.
Late Monday, Acting City Manager Patrick Duhaney, said the city has not agreed to support moving the camp to anther location.
Duhaney's comments came after Sam Landis, the leader of the homeless advocacy group, Maslow's Army, said the camp would move from its current location to a new location "just east."
Landis declined to specifically say where but predicted the site would be completely cleared out Tuesday and begin to move around 6 a.m. Wednesday. He also said the chief executive officer of Fern, Aaron Bludworth, is donating trucks from his Cincinnati company to help with the move.
As of Tuesday evening, a few campers remained at the site underneath the Fort Washington Way bridge. Some didn't seem to be in a big hurry to go and they expressed sadness at leaving the camp they've called home.
"I do feel bad about leaving here. I feel a whole lot -- I'm sad because we've got to leave here. It's terrible." said Allen Howard, a resident of the camp.
Late last week, Duhaney said he met with representatives of the camp and worked out a compromise.
City officials suspended a 72-hour vacate order based on a mutual understanding that those living in the camp leave by Wednesday.
When Landis announced Monday the camp was moving "just east' of Downtown, he declined to provide further details, including the specific spot.
He said Duhaney approved the location.
But Duhaney's statement late Monday rebutted that:
Landis responded and said they were surprised and frustrated about Duhaney's comment.
Maslow's Army and the mayor of the homeless camp Bison Evans have been in negotiations with the city, Landis says. He says Duhaney and City Councilman Greg Landsman spent 45 minutes driving around the city scoping out locations where the 'tent city' could relocate.
Landsman says he and Duhaney did drive around with Landis and Bison Friday, but says they did not agree to let the camp relocate.
"No, the city's not in a position to give approval of a temporary location." said Landsman. Instead, he said he and the Acting City Manager were looking at sites for a potential longer term outdoor shelter space.
A resident of the 'tent city' says some people have moved to a new camp near Great American Ball Park but the location is a well-guarded secret.
Landsman said he's sorry, but the city won't have tent camps on public property, especially not downtown.
"What if they don't leave? Well, if they don't leave eventually we'll have to execute on the promise that we're going to evacuate locations. So, that will happen." said Landsman.
Landsman said a "vast majority" of campers are now in a temporary housing situation.
A mobile health clinic was on site Monday providing services to the homeless.
The city also had a portable toilet and Dumpster delivered.
The services were helping, Landis said Monday, expressing appreciation to city officials.
"Since this happened, five to six people have gone into drug and alcohol treatment facilities, 16 people have signed up for permanent and affordable housing and an additional 16 people received certificates to move into housing," he said.
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