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City of Bastrop taking closer look at solution for homeless camping

Neighbors say they're seeing more homeless people at Ferry Park.

BASTROP, Texas — At last week's Bastrop City Council meeting, concerns of seeing more homeless people in a local park were brought to the City's attention. 

"They are loitering in front of my business and it's to the point that my clients are afraid," Sumai Lokumbe told council at the Jan. 14 meeting

She said she's seen more homeless people at Ferry Park, which is nearby the hair salon she owns. She said she feels for people experiencing homelessness, but says their presence and behavior at the park is affecting her business. 

"My heart [does] go out to anyone who [doesn’t] have a warm bed to sleep in and a hot meal every day," said Lokumbe. "Last week it was four people; Friday it was six; yesterday it was literally eight people out there."

She said another concern is for her grandchildren who she says cannot go to the park anymore. Her main concern is the behavior that's going on across the street.

"They change their clothes in public. They have their clothes hanging all over the gazebo. On the Port-a-Potty they dry their blankets that they sleep in, their sleeping bags," said Lokumbe. "They sleep down in the park. When they come up, they congregate all day, literally all day, all night, in this gazebo at this park ... They fight out there, verbally fighting." 

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Bastrop police told KVUE that in a 30-day span from Dec. 14, 2019, to Jan. 14, 2020, they received eight calls for service with reference to homeless people. Four citations were issued – three for camping and one for a "minor assault." There were also two warning citations issued for camping, and one warrant arrest was made. 

In addition to this, Bastrop police said their officers made referrals to the Texas Workforce Commission, Bluebonnet MHMR, and a local church organization that actively participates in providing services to those in need.

Credit: Luis de Leon

"I don’t know what it is we can do but I’m willing to help – whatever we can do to help these people," said Lokumbe. 

Bastrop councilmember Bill Ennis said he hopes special attention is given to the issue.

Bastrop Mayor Connie Schroeder encouraged the city attorney and police to continue working for a possible solution.

"I would ask the chief and the city attorney to spend some time together if there’s anything else that we can put on the books," Schroeder said on Jan. 14.

The city told KVUE on Thursday the Bastrop community has services available to support homeless individuals, including the Bastrop County Emergency Food Pantry and the soup kitchen and homeless shelter created by Pastor Roland Nava’s Hands Up High Ministry.

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