ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - The days may be numbered for a homeless tent encampment on Tucker Boulevard in downtown. At Interco Plaza – between the St. Patrick Center and old St. Louis Post-Dispatch building – two dozen tents, two portapotties and people loitering throughout the day.
A chicken bone here, some human excrement there, plastic cups, empty water bottles – it's become home for many. Mayor Tishaura Jone's office tells KMOX they hope to relocate the homeless tent-dwellers someplace else in 30 to 60 days, using funds from the American Rescue Plan.
Employees of Square, the St. Louis native and Twitter founder Jack Dorsey-owned company, are scheduled to start working in the old Post-Dispatch building later this year.
Amber Blackburn says she's lived in the encampment about a month.
"It helps people out who are going through a difficult time for one. For two, it's also a way for people to actually interact together. So many people are on their phones all day, video games, stuff like that. It's actually been bringing people together a lot more."
A spokesperson for the St. Patrick's Center says it does not endorse the encampment, but does offer residents there food, water and counseling to get into their indoor shelter.
One man who lives there doesn't like the idea of moving out.
"I believe that we should be able to sleep and go as we please as long as we're not bothering to disrupting anyone else," he says.
Another man says he hopes the city has some place else for them to move if they are kicked out.
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