NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The city estimates about 45 people live in the homeless encampment at Brookmeade Park. This week they were notified that the city plans to relocate them and renovate the park by the first of the year.
In a letter given to residents of the park, the city said it will begin helping with relocation as early as next week. The goal is to find everyone somewhere safe to live before Christmas.
"This city has been complicit in letting people call a public park home," said Founder of Reclaim Brookmeade Park Rebecca Lowe. The organization has been fighting to clean the park and rehouse those living in it.
She said the city's intervention was overdue.
"So, at this point, they need to be sensitive that this is going to be a really hard move for people, and we need to help those folks transition compassionately," said Lowe.
In October, Metro Council approved Nashville Mayor John Cooper's $50 million "Housing First" plan which would, among other things, ramp up the city's capacity for temporary housing.
Metro continues to work with several nonprofits in the area to provide help with housing and other essentials like toiletries, clothes, etc.
By January 1, the city hopes everyone living in Brookmeade will be in safe and clean housing and the encampment will be closed.
But Brookmeade residents like Angela Leach worry about what's next.
"I'm tough, I mean everybody says I'm tough, but it's hard," said Leach, holding back tears. "I mean it's so hard out here."
Both Leach and Lowe, although on different ends of the issue, share a common goal.
"Well, there needs to be a bridge from becoming unsheltered — becoming homeless — to actually having access to shelter, permanent shelter," said Lowe.
As for Leach, she said she has spent months on waitlists. Now she has five weeks before her current home is closed for good.
"Where am I going to go? I mean I don't have nowhere to go," she said.
The city also plans to close another encampment in South Nashville near Wentworth-Caldwell Park. Officials estimate about 25 people live there.
