NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — New efforts are underway to clean up a homeless encampment along the greenway off of Cement Plant Road.

“It makes it look a lot better with all of the trees and everything; it's kind of a natural attraction for encampments to build and get bigger, so it's good that they're clearing it out,” Jeff Dalzell, who runs along Cement Plant Road, said.

The property backs up to the Cumberland River, perhaps part of the reason the conversation got started.

“A steamboat, river boat company that's coming in that bought some property over there, where there were folks living, and I appreciate that they reached out to me and said, 'We don't want to just kick these people off. What can we do to help and support them?' And so that started a collaborative effort,” District 19 Councilmember Jacob Kupin said.

Nashville's Office of Homeless Services leaders said they've been able to connect eight people who were living on the property with housing solutions.

“This year, we were successful in receiving some Metro Rapid Response funding within our Metro budget, so we were able to utilize those funds as a pilot program to help these families transition,” OHS Director April Calvin said.

According to data from the OHS, numbers from September of this year show 3,585 were experiencing homelessness in Nashville. That's up 438 people from last year.

“2.4%, that's the only increase we've noticed in the last two years, 2.4% increase," Calvin said. "The national average last year was an 18% increase across the nation."

When asked about encampments, Calvin said her office is focused on all areas of homelessness.

Kupin said he was proud of the efforts along Cement Plant Road. 

“I know a lot of community leaders have asked me, and I have asked OHS about, 'What's the long-term success? How do we make sure these people get into long-term housing and stay in long-term housing?' But it is a process that is continuing to be worked on and to improve,” Kupin said.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/nashville/metro-ohs-cleans-up-north-nashville-homeless-encampment/