ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - For over two years the corner of Chippewa Street and South Spring Avenue was occupied by a migrant couple from Sudan who had taken over the corner with their makeshift tent comprised of tarps and shopping carts.
On Thursday morning, the makeshift tent was no more, as the city of St. Louis cleared out the homeless couple from the corner they had occupied for years.
A spokesperson for the Mayor's Office says in recent weeks the couples tent had expanded and became a hazard which prompted the city to relocate and clear their camp.
The spokesperson couldn't go into specific details due to privacy reasons but said the migrant couple is receiving service from the city and does have a roof over their heads.
Lucille is the manager of Bertha Lee's Treasures, which sat across from the corner from where the couple had set up their tent and was shocked to learn they had been finally cleared out.
"I pull up (earlier this morning) and you haven't even notice that it is gone. Now, I'm so grateful that it is gone," said Lucille to KMOX News' Sean Malone. "It looks so clean and neat and breezy and clean and also I don't smell anything."
A homeowner who lived near the makeshift tent recently sued the city and the homeless couple. The homeowner declined to comment citing litigation against the city and the homeless couple.