'Ain't got nowhere': Clackamas County clears major encampment

CLACKAMAS, Ore. (KOIN) -- After years of reports about fights, trash and crime, a major homeless encampment was cleared out Monday, Clackamas County commissioners said.

The county ordered people to remove their RVs and tents or they faced being towed and evicted. About eight people on one street scrambled throughout the day to get their belongings together, many without knowing where they'd go next.

For the past year, Jaime Smith and her little black cat Jinx has lived on the street, first in a tent and then in a pop-up trailer.

"Ain't got nowhere, just nowhere," Smith said. "This was the most security I had. So I have no place to actually secure my belongings."

Clackamas County Commissioner Paul Savas said he does not disagree that the sweep needed to be done, "but it would be nice if we had some timing or some time to better have some of those services available, or places to make sure that all that type of population has unique needs, and not all of them take our help."

The decision to close the road was reached during the summer in a 4-1 vote by the commissioners. Initially the plan was to tow away the remaining RVs by mid-afternoon but the county chose not to rush the process.

Savas added this particular camp "is the most challenging group because, what's left there are the people that have refused those that help and service."

Clackamas County is working with the two businesses on either side of this road with the possibility of allowing them to purchase it later on and make it private property.

KOIN 6 News will continue to follow this story.