Property owners ask Chattanooga Police to relocate homeless camp from Hooker Road site

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Members of a Chattanooga homeless camp have been told to vacate a private property where they were staying after the owner filed a request with police.

This is regarding a property on Hooker Road where several homeless people were camping out.

The city of Chattanooga tells us the Chattanooga Police Department received a request from the property owners asking for removal of the unsheltered people from their property.

“Over the past few weeks, staff from the city’s Office of Homelessness & Supportive Housing (OHSH) notified people of the property owner’s request and have offered rehab, housing and relocation services,” Chattanooga Press Secretary Stephanie Cepak tells us.

On Monday, Cepak says CPD and OHSH spoke with the 19 remaining people on the property.

She says each person communicated a willingness and understanding that they had to leave the property.

A resident told Chattanooga city council members on Tuesday that she takes issue with the city’s decision to clear the camp.

“In the last 30 hours, the Chattanooga city and the Chattanooga Police Department have displaced at least 40 humans and 20 dogs from an encampment on Hooker Road in District 7. Were these folks on someone’s private property? Yes. Do I think the city did everything it could? Yes, but it’s not enough. In any way, shape or form, it’s not enough.”