ORLANDO, Fla. — A couple of years ago tents starting popping up in Parramore. A year ago Channel 9 took a look at the issue and the city vowed to fix it, but 9 Investigates went back to take a look and found the tents are still there.
It’s something Fred Bauman has been living with for years. His once-quiet street is now full of people living in tents along his neighborhood roads. He said it’s small village creating garbage, noise and crime.
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“Your property values are going down, it’s just a pain, but what can you do,” Bauman said.
There are so many strangers in the area, that Bauman said he no longer lets his grandson ride his bike outside during the day, and he makes sure he’s home at night.
Read: Orlando City Council approves plan to improve, expand homeless services in Parramore
According to the Central Florida Commission on Homelessness, Florida has the third-highest number of homeless people in the country.
Cities like Orlando have thrown money at the problem, but if you ask the folks in Parramore, there’s little to show for it. Dana Wright has lived in Parramore most of her life and said the city is not listening to the complaints.
Read: Orlando to consider new $600K plan to rehome people experiencing homelessness
“Every time we say something, they don’t do nothing,” Wright said. “Police come out and make them move and they come right back.”
Camping on the sidewalks is against city ordinance, and code enforcement, and police are called to tell the homeless they need to move, only to return days or hours later.
Since last July, there have been at least 667 orange notices placed on tents and other property in the area. The city said it’s trying to avoid arrests.
Read: Orlando to use $58M in federal funds to help support homeless services
Recently the city received $58 million for homeless services. But Mayor Buddy Dyer said the money isn’t going directly here, instead pointing to other initiatives like affordable housing, saying about $600,000 will be used for rapid rehousing to try and get people out of the tents.
“It’s intensive work to contact and understand the issues of people who are residing in tents in the Parramore neighborhood. I think we have already been able to relocate 15-20 people and that is getting them into hotels or shelters,” Dyer said.
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