ST. LOUIS — The city on Monday began its planned removal of homeless encampments. But, by mid-afternoon, only one or two people had been removed, according to advocates and city officials.
The city had posted notices at four homeless encampments advising residents that they had 10 days to vacate, with a deadline of Monday. The sites included an encampment under a pavilion along the Mississippi River, referred to as the Riverfront Community, and three sites near the Interstate 44 overpass by Cole Street.
But the riverfront group received a reprieve on Friday, when the city said it would delay its eviction. The city said it had shelter beds available for the Riverfront Community’s 15 to 20 residents, but that it would delay the site’s closure until it had options that are not in group settings.
In total, two encampments under Interstate 44 were cleared on Monday, according to a city official. City workers found one person staying at one of them, and the other was vacant. City workers collected and tagged some items that homeless individuals may claim, and then the area was cleared by the Missouri Department of Transportation.
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Robert Johnson, 53, said he was told to pack up and leave his spot Monday morning.
“I’m just going to do the best I can,†he said. “Stay warm. Stay safe. And find something to eat.â€
There is a third encampment under I-44 where four or five people have been staying, and which also received a notice to vacate by Monday. But the encampment was still there as of early Monday afternoon. The residents were packing up their belongings, and K.B. Doman, a volunteer from Tent Mission STL, said she and other volunteers planned to help them move elsewhere.
“I’ve been moved four times,†said a man who gave his name as Decky, 53. “I just keep moving.â€
Later Monday afternoon, the city official said there are no immediate plans to evict that site.
St. Louis police Maj. Renee Kriesmann, commander of the patrol division that covers the downtown area, said the encampments under I-44 posed public health and safety risks. Kriesmann also said officers make multiple arrests weekly for drug dealing in that area.
A group of protesters marched from the riverfront to City Hall on Monday morning to voice disapproval of the city’s push to empty the encampments.
Trina Scott, 43, who identified herself as the mayor of the Riverfront Community, was among those who marched.
“We need a stable place to call home,†she said.
Photos: Unhoused campers in St. Louis face removal as protesters rally
"I have no place to go. I am all alone," said Serena Harrington, 54, who sits inside her tent, waiting for the impending eviction from the homeless camp underneath the overpass at I-44 at Cole Street on Monday, May 2, 2022. After speaking with outreach workers, Harrington was relocated to a shelter. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Workers pick up trash and debris on Monday, May 2, 2022 from an area under Interstate 44 where unhoused people were living in a tent and using the overpass as shelter in St. Louis. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Photo from 2022: St. Louis alderwoman Christine Ingrassia (center) listens to speakers address the way St. Louis city is handling homeless encampments during a protest march that stopped under an overpass for Interstate 44 where several people were living in tents Monday, May 2, 2022. Protesters are opposed to the city evicting people from the tents. The overpass was desirable location for an encampment because people use the overpass to provide additional shelter for thier tents. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Unhoused advocate Sarah Watkins (center), with Houses for All St. Louis, leads a group of protesters in chants outside St. Louis City Hall after the group of about 30 people marched from one of the tent encampments along the river to City Hall on Monday, May 2, 2022. About 30 people took part in the march. The group is protesting the city's plan to evict the people living in tents at encampments around the city. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Nick White stands in an encampment near the intersection of Gravois Avenue and River Des Peres Boulevard holding two plastic bags filled with food given to him by a local volunteer organization on Sunday, May 1, 2022. Photo by Zachary Clingenpeel, zclingenpeel@post-dispatch.com
City of St. Louis workers watch as advocates for the unhoused march to protest the eviction of residents at the homeless camp underneath the overpass at I-44 at Cole Street on Monday, May 2, 2022. Several residents were still living at the camp during the protest. One was relocated to a shelter by noon and a couple others were packing up their items relocate. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Advocates for the unhoused protest the eviction of residents at homeless camp underneath the overpass at I-44 at Cole Street on Monday, May 2, 2022. Several residents were still living at the camp during the protest. One was relocated to a shelter by noon and a couple others were packing up their items to relocate. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
A needle was among the items of trash piled up at the homeless camp underneath the overpass at I-44 at Cole Street on Monday, May 2, 2022. Several residents were still living at the camp the morning of the the scheduled eviction by the city of St. Louis. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Angela Patel, a volunteer with Tent Mission STL, places protest signs on the steps of St. Louis City Hall after people marched from a tent encampment on the Mississippi River to downtown to voice their concerns about the city's plan to evict the unhoused living in the tents on Monday, May 2, 2022.Â
Tef Poe, a rapper and activist, addresses a group of protesters with whom he marched from a tent encampment along the St. Louis riverfront to the steps of City Hall on Monday, May 2, 2022.
A woman who identified herself as Sophie Kon prepares herself a cup of coffee on Monday, May 2, 2022 from a table of in the middle of tent encampment under the pavilion where the Admiral gambling boat used to be along the St. Louis riverfront. Kon says she's been living in the tent for about a year. The coffee was brought to the encampment by activists trying to help the unhoused. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
A sign in a homeless camp near the intersection of Lumiere Place Boulevard and Cole Street reads "Private Property" on Thursday, April 21, 2022. That camp and another nearby camp on the riverfront were put on notice by St. Louis city workers on Thursday that residents at the sites have 10 days to evacuate. Photo by Zachary Clingenpeel, zclingenpeel@post-dispatch.com
Advocates for the unhoused protest the eviction of residents at a homeless camp underneath the overpass at Interstate 44 at Cole Street on Monday, May 2, 2022. Several residents were still living at the camp during the protest.Â
"I have no place to go. I am all alone," said Serena Harrington, 54, who sits inside her tent, waiting for an impending eviction from the homeless camp underneath the overpass at I-44 at Cole Street on Monday, May 2, 2022. After speaking with outreach workers, Harrington was relocated to a shelter.Â
Items sit on the ground at the homeless camp underneath the Interstate 44 overpass at Cole Street on Monday, May 2, 2022. Several residents were still living at the camp the morning of a scheduled eviction by the city of St. Louis. Â
Eviction notices hang on a wall at a homeless encampment known as the Riverfront Community, on Leonor K. Sullivan Boulevard in downtown St. Louis. The notices, posted on Thursday, April 21, 2022, indicate that residents have 10 days to evacuate the camp. (Photo by Zachary Clingenpeel, zclingenpeel@post-dispatch.com)
A man who gave his name as "Dracula" stands in the middle of the riverfront community homeless camp along Leonor K. Sullivan Boulevard, where St. Louis officials informed the residents on Thursday, April 21, 2022 that they had 10 days to leave. "Dracula" said he was not sure where to go once the city takes down the camp. "They should keep it open, just clean it up." Photo by Zachary Clingenpeel, zclingenpeel@post-dispatch.com
