Time is Up at Kansas City Homeless Camp
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Garbage is burning in a fire at this homeless camp near 13th and Summit, while around it, a group of men spent Sunday afternoon trying to pack up what little items they owned.
“We’ve been trying to pack everything up because I feel like they’re not going to give us all the week that we deserve,” said White Hawk, who has called a hillside near Mulkey Square Park home for six months.
When Fox 4 visited this camp last week, White Hawk and two others had an American flag up. All of them are veterans. They also had several pots and pans that hung over the fire, some sure signs this was home to them. But, not anymore.
“It’s definitely interfering with our lives that we got to do this,” said White Hawk.
The city has come back to claim its land. Police officers partnered with the homeless outreach group Hope Faith Ministries to break the news. Although, White Hawk has talked to members of Hope Faith, he said he has never actually talked to an officer, which is a problem for him.
“It’s all hearsay, we haven’t actually been confronted,” he said.
Police say they’ve come back several times, but sometimes miss occupants who aren’t there, like when they came through last week.
“We’ll make every attempt to contact everybody that’s here. We’ll probably send another crew back tomorrow evening at a little different time period to see if we can catch anybody else here,” said KCMO Police Capt. Mark Hatcher last week.
With an official face-to-face contact or not, White Hawk and the others who live in his camp are still cleaning up for the final hours, as the clock is winds down to Monday evening when they must be out. The city gave those living there an extension because of Friday’s wet weather.
Hope Faith Ministries executive director Desiree Monize said they have found an apartment for White Hawk and the two others in his camp. But, it isn’t clear if the group will take advantage of that apartment.
FOX 4 asked White Hawk where they are moving their items, but they didn’t want to disclose their new location.
Monize also said their group has filed all the paperwork for White Hawk and the other two for veterans benefits. She said all three of them qualify for benefits.
FOX 4 is told those living there will have a week to take down more elaborate structures, but they will not be able to camp there overnight. Officers will be in the area late Monday afternoon to make sure everyone is out. Anyone who refuses will be arrested, although the police department says that is not the hope.
