Bangor sweeps houseless encampment “Camp Hope”

Camp Hope, where the sweep is allegedly paused until Friday, is in ruins after City of Bangor Police and city workers destroyed people’s homes. They bulldozed residents tents with people still inside them. They threatened outreach volunteers with arrest when we videotaped their actions, forcing us to stand out of sight.

Words cannot describe how heartbreaking it is to see our neighbors lives upended. Most of these residents have been here for years. People have reported their items stolen or destroyed, including photos of their parents, cellphones, brand new tents, clothes, and more. Folks didn’t ask us to replace items— they might lose them again on Friday. A single crutch was laying broken in the road amid the piles of needlessly destroyed belongings. We don’t know which of the residents it is, many folks at Camp have physical disabilities.

The shelters in the area are full. Our overnight warming shelters are closing. Homelessness in Bangor is criminalized effectively.

Normally I end posts like these with a call to action, but tonight I ask my housed neighbors to sit with the heavy weight of not being able to do anything about this situation. Reflect on what feelings come up for you, how helpless it feels. Tomorrow, we’ll talk more about how folks can get involved, but tonight, let’s all share in the horrific unease the city of Bangor has placed on our community.