The homeless camp underneath the bridge on Queen City Parkway has been given a week's notice to move out, a move started by the Georgia Department of Transportation, which wants to clean up the property, which it owns.
Gainesville Police officers went to the camp Monday afternoon to inform the camp's residents of the impending move, which GDOT hopes will happen by Oct. 21, giving everyone three total weeks to make sure everyone is relocated.
"(I'll go) wherever they send me. I'm waiting for the law to show up with a mandate or order," said Marie Clark, who lives in a small structure in the highest corner underneath the bridge.
Other residents took issue with the officers, accusing them of neglecting the city's homeless population or ignoring the alleged crimes against them.
"You really don't know what you're playing with down here. We aren't bothering anybody down here. Leave us alone. Let us live," said a man who identified himself as a resident of the camp, but refused to give his name.
"We cook down here. We take care of each other. We don't come up (above the bridge) and hang out with y'all."
Local charities and ministries are coming to the camp Tuesday to help the men and women find a place to live.
"We're here ... looking towards the long-term planning of how we can support them, and find them homes and jobs," said Joy Griffin, president of United Way of Hall County.
Jay Parrish, deputy chief of police, handed out pamphlets to the residents, outlining the resources from various ministries and non-profits that will be available to them as they move out.
"We know not everybody can be here at 1:00 (Tuesday) to hear what these people have to offer for permanent sheltering, help for those that need help, (or) those that may have homes not in Gainesville, Georgia that want to get back. These partners are going to help get you there," said Parrish.
"Our goal is to spend the next three weeks with you — not the police department. The community service people."
Clint Thomas, who said he was there to help the camp, but did not live there, said the resources were "very limited."
"Most of these places are filled up. They can't really help you. They may help you with clothes and food, but that's about it," said Thomas. "A lot of these people need to be retrained (for jobs)."
Residents of the camp handed out signs reading "homeless lives matter" to the gathering of police and press.
When asked if he felt society pushed the homeless aside, the man who refused to identify himself nodded his head and said, "For real. That's how I feel."
