CINCINNATI — Police officers and crews from the City of Cincinnati spent hours in Mount Washington Thursday packing trucks and trailers full of items like books, boxes and clothes — most of the stuff belonging to people who have been living at Stanbery Park.
"They just came in this morning and started taking my stuff up out of here," Jessica Johnson said.
Johnson and a few other people living in the park watched as their belongings were taken by the city. She said no one gave them a reason for the clean-up, just telling her to grab what she could and leave.
Cincinnati city crews at the park told WCPO the items were being thrown away at a nearby dumpster.
"My dead mom's stuff's there," Johnson said. "It's all I had left of my mom, it's right there on the truck."
Some people who visit the park say the people living there are causing a safety concern to neighbors.
"The homeless encampments have been invading our area lately, and it's been an ongoing project," said Jack Diesel, a Mount Washington Community Council member.
Diesel said the people living in the park were warned and offered alternatives before Thursday's clean-up.
Last June, the Supreme Court ruled that it is not cruel and unusual punishment for a city or municipality to punish someone for sleeping outside, even if they don't have a place to go. Days before that ruling, the City of Cincinnati and the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition reached an $83,000 settlement stemming from a lawsuit over how former city officials handled a large camp of people living in tents on 3rd Street in 2018.
The city also changed its policy regarding how city officials handle complaints about homeless camps. Spokesperson Ben Breuninger said in a statement the city has "repeatedly engaged" with those living at Stanbery Park.
"The City’s Place-Based Initiatives Manager began offering services in July 2023 and has regularly returned to re-engage and re-offer assistance; the people living in the park have refused these services. Yesterday, in accordance with the city's policy and legal obligations, an encampment was removed from the wooded area of the park. Written notice of the cleanup was provided on October 28," the statement says.
Johnson said she's still scrambling for a place to stay.
"(I'm going to) try to find somebody that's going to help and listen to my story and try to help me," said Johnson.
Brian Gary with Neighborhoods United says those wanting to help can contact his email at BrianGarry@NeighborhoodsUnitedCincinnati.com or by calling 513-221-JUST.
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