Squatters are rife in Escambia County, Florida where homeless encampments have sprung up on private property, according to a witness.
Brent resident Gwen Gibson told the Pensacola News Journal: “There are so many people going back and forth it’s ridiculous.
“I’ve been on the phone with code enforcement and the sheriff’s department. There are at least 15 to 20 people constantly walking down my driveway to get to their [camp] to buy drugs, prostitution, whatever they’re doing back there.”
Gibson lives next to a plot of land that has been the site of homeless encampments for several years. The Escambia County magistrate has ordered the Merrill family – who own the land – to clean out the tents and trash by April of this year.
Collier Merrill began moving debris and clearing the squatters from the site in August after the order was delayed. He now says he will remove the encampments “by whatever means”, according to the Pensacola News Journal.
The outlet reported that he has posted no trespassing signs and cameras on the property but has not called the police on those in the encampments.
Merrill said: “We’ve been working on another project, hoping they would go ahead and move on their own, but actually they’re not going to do that. So, we are now making this a priority to get in compliance with the county.”
However, the problem has become worse since August, according to Gibson.
She said: “We had it solved when he cleaned it up and most of the people left. Now, once again, everybody keeps blowing smoke. All Merrill has done is make it a really nice place for them to live. The longer they wait to move people, the more people who come.”
Gibson said that some of the squatters used a tree on the property as a bathroom. She could see it from her window.
She claims that she has to deal with constant trash and fires. Gibson has even seen fights break out and found someone passed out, high on drugs.
Residents say homelessness and squatting in the area are getting worse.
Escambia Commissioner Mike Kohler said: “That is the biggest, number one problem in the county. There’s no other complaint I get more than ‘What are you doing about the situation?’ And I know the other commissioners have to be getting it, too.”
Gibson added: “I’ve been dealing with this for years. I feel very unsafe. It’s been hard, and sometimes I think I can’t do this anymore, but I’m not giving up. I haven’t done anything wrong. Why should I have to leave?”
