Bloomington’s main homeless encampment was destroyed today. The parking lot on Oakland Ave was owned by Eastview Church and served as a homeless encampment for about a year. It was right next to Home Sweet Home Ministries homeless shelter which supervised the encampment. Last month, the City of Bloomington decided they would no longer tolerate the encampment’s existence and ordered it dismantled by October 15th, 2024.
Members of Home Sweet Homes Ministry, God’s Mission Ministry, PATH, Chestnut Health Systems, Bloomington Housing Commission, and Salvation Army assisted in the dismantling of the encampment. Salvation Army received a $50,000 donation from Eastview Church and permission from the City of Bloomington to ignore fire/building codes and add 32 additional unhoused people. However, as reported by Agitation Rising News, they announced yesterday they were not ready for the new residents.
God’s Mission Ministry helped thirteen individuals move to new locations. Most of them will end up in the woods further away from services and safety.
