NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A homeless community in Brookmeade Park may be minding their own business, but as it has grown, community members and business owners are voicing concerns over safety and an increase in trash.
“We’re not homeless. We’re houseless”
For 10 years Elizabeth Mallard has on and off called Brookmeade Park her home. She may not have a bathroom, air conditioning and a closet, but the tents on the property have become her refuge.
Mallard admits transitioning to permanent housing has been difficult. She seems to find more of a community with 40 to 50 other homeless men and women who have occupied parts of the West Nashville park locals have identified as the “homeless camp across from Walmart.” They may sleep tucked in between trees, but a good group of homeless individuals spend most of their day hanging out in the parking lot.
But over the years their presence has ignited strong emotions from neighbors and tourists alike. The greenway at the park leads to the Kelley’s Point Overlook, a Civil War battlefield that attracts history enthusiasts from across the country.
A recent visitor from Spring Hill messaged the Nashville Civil War battlefield preservation group Battle of Nashville Trust and described the park as horrible. He feared he would be murdered and pointed out the busted cars, piles of garbage and “possible drug dealers on the other end of the lot.”
Someone on social media recently suggested they should be shipped away.
“We’re just trying to survive after we fell on bad times at some point in our lives. We’re just trying to make the best that we can, but I don’t want anybody to be afraid to come out here,” Mallard said.
Complaints over safety and piling trash have been ongoing for years. Council member Dave Rosenberg not only is seeing more posts on online neighborhood groups, but nearby businesses are also expressing their concerns about loitering to him. Rosenberg believes people are observing the activity because more are spending time outdoors thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.
While there have been meetings about the park lately, Rosenberg said the city is left with limited options when many of the homeless people decline to go to shelters. He understands the issue is far more complex when affordable housing in Nashville has been lacking.
“We have a growing homeless population in Nashville. If you’re choosing to live in the woods as opposed to accepting help, then there’s probably a mental health issue at play,” Rosenberg said.
Homeless advocates say putting homeless individuals into housing is a more complicated process that requires to build relationships.
"These people are not dangerous"
Meredith Jaulin of Shower The People knows many of the individuals at the park by name. Her organization provides showers through a retrofitted school bus on a weekly basis. She and other groups would periodically visit the park to assist in some capacity.
Jaulin’s experience has been the opposite compared to the complaints and reviews she frequently hears about. To her they just simply want to be seen and heard.
Since March, there have been about 15 cases of assault, vehicle break-ins and thefts near the area, according to Metro Crime Mapping. There is no official confirmation if any of the cases are directly linked to one of the members of the homeless encampment.
“These people are not dangerous. They’re just trying to survive,” Jaulin said. “Never once have I felt unsafe. Yes, it’s dirty but that’s because people don’t have the same access to trash bags.”
Metro Parks and Recreation said it has deep cleaned the park several times over the course of the last few years and empty the dumpsters on a regular basis. The department receives complaints monthly, but although Park Police respond to calls, superintendent Jackie Jones said the problem of homelessness needs to be addressed on a broader scale.
Some homeless sites forced to move
Metro Water Services will begin a two-year development later this month to build the Davidson Branch Pump Station and Equalization Facility right along the park.
Several of the homeless tents must move further away to make room for grading and dirt removal and fence installation. Blasting will begin in December and will affect anyone who lives nearby. This may temporarily close the greenway.
Homeless camps have been notified by community groups about the changes which could start as early as next week. So far, there has been no pushback from people like Mallard and her friends.
Rosenberg hopes the water project will spur people to seek help from organizations. Jaulin expects the project to expose the need for more resources for the homeless community as the greenway disappears.
The Metro Homeless Impact Division is coordinating with service providers to utilize about $10 million in homeless funds to assist people experiencing homelessness with housing.