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HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHP) — In coming weeks, members of Harrisburg’s homeless population will have the option to move to a more permanent community with amenities and social support.
Details about the move were officially announced Thursday at a press conference, which you can watch below:
Marsha Curry-Nixon, founder of Amiracle4Sure, said the nonprofit was able to acquire the new football-field-sized space using grant money, and they hope the space—which they call the “Miracle Community”—will offer another option for Harrisburg’s homeless population to move forward with dignity. The site is located at 1125 South 9th St.
Project leaders said they hope to complete the move by mid-August, and community members have already donated vans, trucks and supplies to help with the transition.
he new space will be divided into rows of 14x14 spots, which can each fit a two-person tent. Tents will be placed on pallet bases, and storage also be available to residents of the new community, along with amenities like porta potties, trash cans and a designated cooking area.
The nonprofit said that ideally, it hopes to create a campground-style grilling station with 6-7 grills.
Mayor Wanda Williams said the city will continue to offer its support to the Miracle Community and will continue to provide the services it already provides those who live at “tent city,” Harrisburg’s current homeless encampment set up by the PennDOT building on South Front Street.
“We are a compassionate city. We are a city of action. And we will continue to support our unhoused neighbors by doing what we have always done: providing critical service like police protection, fire response, trash removal and community service aid assistance,” Williams said.
That said, Williams advocated against an open cooking area due to safety concerns. In January, someone living in the tent city encampment died after their tent caught fire.