Crews clean out South Philly homeless encampment off of Delaware River Trail

Julia Monus broke down in tears when she stared at the South Philadelphia pier that she had called home for a year.
On Tuesday, crews moved in on Tuesday and shutdown the homeless encampment located off the Delaware River Trail near Reed Street and Columbus Boulevard in South Philly. The clean up efforts were still underway three days later as dozens of people search for a new place to call home.
There has been an ongoing fight surrounding businesses, property owners and trail users who say they are upset about the unhoused staying in this spot.
“Everybody I know out here is beautiful and resourceful and talented, they’re special people. They’re not just bums,” Monus told NBC10. “We’re already unstable obviously, that’s why we’re out here, but then to destabilize us like this, we don’t know, we don’t know where to go.”
She also said there are now more than 40 people left confused and forced to find another area to live.
On the fence outside of the pier, there are still warning signs posted about plans to break down the encampment on Oct. 14. The encampment was on private land.
“Literally put everything in a dumpster, didn’t have any regard for our personal belongings,” he said. “We’re already unstable obviously, that’s why we’re out here, but then to destabilize us like this, we don’t know, we don’t know where to go.”
One man told NBC10 that he lived in the encampment for three months, but now he’s forced to move without his belongings.
“The City of Philadelphia is providing social services to unhoused individuals during the developer’s dismantling of an encampment on its private lot at Reed Street and South Columbus Boulevard. City agencies are ready to provide medical, housing, behavioral health, addiction treatment, and animal care and control services. Outreach teams are in daily contact with these individuals, even those who are not accepting services or placement immediately in the hopes by continuing to engage them they will choose to accept one day soon as the weather is getting colder. There are beds available daily,” a spokesperson with the city wrote in a statement to NBC10.
A spokesperson for the land owner, Brevet Capital Management, wrote in a statement to NBC10 that, “alongside our community partners, we are committed to prioritizing safety and ensuring everyone is treated with dignity.”
If you need assistance, please call the Philadelphia’s Homeless Outreach at 215-232-1984.