Homeless forced to move

Although a State Police squad removed homeless shantytowns from beneath bridges in Back Bay last week, several homeless people have returned to the area, noting that they were not trying to disturb the neighborhood.

Last Thursday, the Massachusetts State Police and the State Department of Conservation and Recreation removed the homeless shantytowns under the Massachusetts Avenue bridge and at several other locations near Kenmore Square, all of which are state property.

Kara England, a State Police spokeswoman, said last week's removal arose from several complaints from local residents.

"The DCR received several complaints about behavior down there, including reports of harassments and sexual assaults," England said. "So with the DCR, the State Police developed a comprehensive plan due to these numerous complaints from the community."

England said State Police carried out the removal of the homeless squatters, aided by members of DCR; the Pine Street Inn, which provides shelters for homeless people; and a homeless advocate from the Boston Police Department.

According to state law, no overnight camping is allowed on public property.

"When the task force went down there, there were no homeless in the shantytowns," England said. "There was one homeless who was found under a tree, and the Pine Street Inn offered him a bed as they would have done if they had discovered anybody down there. The man accepted the bed at the Pine Street Inn."

Since last Thursday, England said some homeless people have returned, but the State Police will continue to enforce the regulation and remove everyone who tries to sleep in the area.

Ronnie, who declined to give his last name, said he had been homeless since 1977 and has lived in the shantytowns for several years. He was present when the State Police came to remove him and his companions last week.

"They came twice, last Thursday and last Sunday," Ronnie said. "They told us that they would arrest us for trespassing under those bridges, but they knew that we would come back anyway. You know, we are not here to bother or harass anyone. We just want to survive in peace."

Ronnie said some people came in the area to use heavy drugs, but these people were not part of the homeless community that lives in the area.

"Of course we do drink, but we stay by ourselves," he said. "We try not to bother anyone. The state categorizes everyone. We are misfits, but we don't steal."

Joe Ferson, a DCR spokesman, said the complaints from the neighborhood increased in the last few months.

"We received a number of complaints regarding illegal activities and it became an issue of public safety," Ferson said. "Alcohol and drugs were part of it. We heard about complaints last year and this year as well. As some of them increased this year, the encampments became more and more elaborate. It became a public safety issue, not only for the homeless but also for the park users."

Ferson said he did not know how many homeless people were living in the Massachusetts Ave. encampment or if the homeless were actually present during last Thursday's action.

"They were instructed to take their personal belongings and there were some materials left behind that have to be treated as hazards because there were some hypodermic needles and such," he said. "For the safety not only of our employees, but everyone, we had to take those as refuse material."

Ferson said he did not know of other illegal encampments in the Boston area, and did not mention if this action was part of a more large-scale state action. He said that if more encampments were discovered in the city, the same procedure would occur.

According to Shepley Metcalf, Pine Street Inn's director of communication, the entire encampment was disposed of, including the former residents' belongings. They had been asked several times by Pine Street Inn's outreach councilors to relocate to homeless shelters.

There were about 15 people living under the bridges, Metcalf said.

"As you can imagine, it is a very vulnerable group," she said. "Some of them are suffering from pretty severe mental illness, substance abuse ... and many are quite determined to stay out. They don't want to come into shelters. Our goal is to get these people to come in, so they start taking advantage of some of the services we have."

About 6,000 men, women and children are homeless in the city of Boston, Metcalf added.

Ronnie, who said he does worry much about the state actions, said shelters were not for him.

"You know, my father did shelters all his life. It just turns me off," he said. "You know, I chose to be outside."

When asked about the upcoming winter, Ronnie answered gravely.

"It sucks, you know; I am not even looking forward for this winter," he said.