On Monday, the city of Northampton declined to evict 10 people living outside at Fitzgerald Lake after about 60 people gathered to show support for their campsite, which they’ve dubbed Moose Camp.
Named after the Moose Lodge that used to exist at the site, Moose Camp came together in early September as a group of Northampton residents sought a place they could stay for the winter that would be at low risk of eviction. Organizing themselves as a“recovery camp” for those overcoming opioid abuse, the camp’s 10 members share meals and funds from those who work jobs and have banned hard drugs from their space.
In its messaging to members of Moose Camp, the city has cited fire risk, complaints from neighbors and conservation trail users, and a planned affordable housing development as reasons the camp needs to vacate its current site. But reporting last week from The Shoestring revealed that Habitat for Humanity, the affordable housing developer, is willing to hold off on taking ownership of the public land to allow the camp to stay for the winter.
Supporters gathered after sharing word of the impending eviction, first reported by The Shoestring, over social media and via personal networks. Some came representing organizations, such as Veterans for Peace or Springfield No One Leaves.
“Cities and towns are more emboldened after Grant’s Pass,” Rose Webster-Smith, the program director of Springfield No One Leaves, told The Shoestring, referring to the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision explicitly allowing municipalities to criminalize outdoor living.
Just before 10 a.m., Alan Wolf, Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra’s chief of staff, told the crowd that the city was declaring the site off limits and anyone who remained would be trespassed and arrested. Northampton police Capt. Victor Caputo said that anyone who did not want to risk arrest could move to the parking lot. At least six police cars, including one unmarked, were on site, some blocking access to the road out of the parking lot.
The crowd, gathered at the entrance of the camp, did not move, and members of Moose Camp addressed city officials through a megaphone.
“I have been assaulted,” Dariana “Didi” Schultz said. “I am not safe in the shelters, which are full anyway.”
“My existence has been criminalized, and I’m fucking tired of it,” she added.
After conferring in the parking lot, Caputo returned to inform the crowd that the city would retreat for the sake of everyone’s safety, but the camp would still have to vacate and the police would enforce that order. Ty Nichols, one of the campers, asked Caputo to continue to communicate when he will be coming to the campsite.
“I’ll see what I can do,” Caputo responded, suggesting the two have a “more frank” conversation when fewer people are present.
Mayor Sciarra did not return a request for comment on Monday, but Wolf said that everything he does as chief of staff is done under her guidance. Speaking about the campsite, Wolf mentioned Nichols by name, saying he had hoped they would vacate the site as they said they would.
“The only way that we can have this policy to work with our social-service partners to try not to move anyone is that in the rare case that we have to ask someone to move, they do it,” Wolf said.
“This is my first experience that someone would rather take us head on than move,” Wolf said. “Talking about why it was necessary ended last Wednesday.”
At the camp, cheers erupted as police retreated.
“That was them realizing there’s too many eyes on this,” Nichols told The Shoestring. Most of the time when a camp is being evicted, Nichols said, people leave as soon as they get notice to avoid a confrontation, and police rarely have to enforce a sweep.
“I’m feeling safe,” they said.
Shultz agreed.
“I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of support,” she said. “I am grateful to get to stay here longer. I like where I’m at.”
As the crowd thinned, supporters hauled bags of the campers’ sentimental belongings back onto the campsite from vehicles in the parking lot. Schultz, preparing to head back into town for lunch at Manna Soup Kitchen, continued reflecting.
“I’ve never had so many people show up for me,” she said.
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