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Bloomington: City Shares Safety, Outreach, and Support Efforts Ahead of Browns Woods Encampment Closure

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~ Bloomington City officials have announced an update on the planned closure of the Browns Woods encampment, which is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 8. According to a press release issued by the City, staff and outreach partners will be present on-site the following morning of Tuesday, Dec. 9 to assist with the transition.

The decision to close the encampment was made after a 30-day notice was issued on Friday, Nov. 7 to all individuals residing at the site. This notice is in line with the City's standard protocol for encampment closures, which aims to ensure clear communication, adequate planning time, and sustained engagement with outreach teams.

The Browns Woods property is owned by the Community Foundation of Monroe County and managed as public space by the City's Parks and Recreation Department under a 2002 agreement. In preparation for this transition, City staff and local service providers have been working closely with residents of the encampment for nearly a year to identify safer and more stable options. This collaborative effort has involved organizations such as Centerstone, Beacon, HealthNet, Monroe County Jail Comprehensive Correctional Care, Heading Home, Bloomington police mental health professionals and outreach teams, Wheeler Mission, City of Bloomington After Hours Ambassadors and Mobile Integrated Health, IU Health, the Monroe County Health Department, and New Leaf New Life.

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It should be noted that encampment closures are only used as a last resort when there are significant and immediate health or safety concerns at a site. They are not meant to be an enforcement tactic but rather a final step after long-term outreach efforts have been made and safer alternatives have been offered. As of December 3rd, outreach teams have reported that only one individual remains at the Browns Woods site and plans are already in place to support their relocation.

It is important to clarify that there is another encampment located on Thomson property north of RCA Community Park, which falls under the jurisdiction of Monroe County. Any actions taken at this location are not directed, approved, or enforced by the City of Bloomington.

The City has a standardized process for handling personal belongings during any encampment transition. Items are collected and stored for 30 days with the assistance of outreach teams, unless they are contaminated, perishable, or deemed unsafe to store. Individuals are given multiple opportunities to retrieve essential items before and during the transition.

City officials acknowledge the challenges that winter poses for individuals living outdoors. While the Bloomington Severe Winter Emergency Shelter (B-SWERS) has been at or near capacity on many nights this season, it works closely with the Stride Crisis Center to ensure that every person seeking a bed is connected to a safe place to sleep for the night.

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In response to concerns from residents about their neighbors' well-being, Mayor Kerry Thomson stated, "These situations are incredibly difficult for everyone involved. We use encampment closures only as a last resort and always in conjunction with outreach efforts. Our team and our partners will continue working directly with each individual to support a safer and more stable path forward."

Mayor Thomson also emphasized the City's commitment to addressing homelessness in the long-term through investments, partnerships, limitations, and formal encampment-response protocols outlined in the Housing and Homelessness Response Report. This report details the City's strategies for improving safety and stability for community members experiencing homelessness and can be accessed at bton.in/hrhi.

As Bloomington prepares for this encampment closure, city officials urge residents to continue showing compassion towards those experiencing homelessness and support efforts towards creating a community where no one has to sleep outside to stay safe.

Filed Under: Government, City
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