Advocates for homeless hold protest at Baltimore City Hall

BALTIMORE -- A protest continued in downtown Baltimore over the city's lack of affordable housing on Tuesday.

For more than two weeks now, advocates and residents of a tent city under the Jones Falls Expressway have stood their ground after being told to leave for the city's weekly farmer's market. 

Members of the homeless encampment and advocates say their needs are still not met, which is why they'll be holding a peaceful protest taking their message directly to city leaders Tuesday morning. They'll start on Saratoga Street at Gay street, where the encampment is, and walk over to City Hall. 

"Basically we're trying to do a protest because we're trying to get things done," said Stanley Johnson.    

The back and forth started a week ago when farmers' market vendors showed up expecting to set up at their regular spots—which they paid for—only to find people who had set up tents.

Last Sunday, things got heated when Baltimore police showed up to clear out remnants of the encampment. Police allege one man tried to set himself on fire at the scene. 

The Mayor's Office of Homeless Services (MOHS) issued a statement last week saying in part that some demonstrators did accept outreach and shelter services after the forced relocation. 

Homeless advocate Christina Flowers told WJZ the campers had only three hours to move. Most of them moved from the lot used for the market just to the other side of a wall there.  

Flowers says the city's negotiations with its homeless population have repeatedly failed—in part because the housing options available do not work for everyone. 

"We need help and that's our biggest thing. We need help," Flowers said.

During the demonstration, WJZ spoke with the Irene Agustin, Director of the Mayor's Office of Homeless Services, who said workers have been meeting with the group daily to help address their needs.

However, she said, there is a procedure that has to be followed, and that takes time.

"Right now, our resources have to be based on priority of those that are the most vulnerable and they can't jump the line because then we are ignoring the needs of people that can literally die on the street If we don't get them matched to housing," Agustin said.

Agustin said they were originally working with a group of 25 people under the bridge.

They have placed 14 of them in shelters and are working to connect them with housing.

However, she said there are a few people who do not want to take the help.

"For those individuals that aren't engaging with us, we'll still be there to help and work with their housing, but to turn around housing in 24 hours and to do that not following the process, is challenging," Agustin said.

The Mayor's Office of Homeless Services said it set a goal of rehousing 1,000 families in the city this year.

It has already met that goal and is hoping to help 350 more families before the end of the year.

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