SAN ANTONIO — John Bandy had noticed a homeless encampment growing behind his workplace, Winston Water Cooler, for several months. While he wasn't a concern at first, he said the homeless then started setting fires.
"The smoke was terrible. I'm afraid, with a good wind, it's going to catch something on fire here," Bandy said. "If a cinder comes in here and hits one of those cardboard boxes, who knows what's going to happen?"
The clerk said he then called his city councilman's office, and thought the city was going to get involved, but he said more than a month went by without any progress. Not sure what to do next, he called KENS 5.
"I watch y'all every morning. I see y'all do good work. Hopefully you can help me," Bandy said.
KENS 5 spoke to homeless individuals at the site. We then reached out to the City of San Antonio and Christian Assistance Ministry to find out what solutions were available.
Christian Assistance Ministry CEO Dawn White-Fosdick said their nonprofit sent a team out to to the side three different times and were able to make contact with the homeless individuals to offer resources. White-Fosdick said its common for homeless individuals to use those wooded areas for shelter and the nonprofit had seen this situation before.
"We work with a lot of local nonprofits. The goal is to go into the encampments, build a relationship with people who are experiencing homelessness there, and access their circumstances," White-Fosdick said. "Is there a substance use issue? Is there a trauma that has happened to them? Is there a reason they are not accessing the services available?"
The CEO said they can help connect those people to Haven For Hope, SAMMinistries, and other organizations that provide shelter and other services.
KENS 5 also spoke to Patrick Steck with the City of San Antonio Department of Human Services.
Steck said the best way to report homeless encampments is to call 311 and report the issue or contact your nearest SAPD SAFFE unit.
"311 will get the ticket created and we will get out there to access it. If there is an encampment that we are able to identify we will schedule it for removal," Steck said.
Steck said anyone reporting this needs to specifically say they need help with a "homeless encampment" so the city can send the right teams to the site.
Steck told KENS 5, in this case, their teams also engaged individuals in the area and offered services. The city then gave advanced notice that they were going to clean out the encampment today.
Again, Steck said anyone who needs help with a homeless encampment should not hesitate to call 311 and let the city know. He said the city normally responds to an encampment within two weeks but they can also respond faster if there are safety issues involved.
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