~ Bloomington Mayor Kerry Thomson has called on Monroe County officials to expedite the closure of the encampment on the County-owned Thomson property, citing growing safety concerns in and around the site. The Mayor's statement comes after ongoing communication between the City and County regarding the property, including coordination among law enforcement, homelessness response staff, and community service providers.

The City has shared with County partners their successful outreach practices and response protocols that have led to the elimination of all encampments on City-owned property. In addition to offering support in the planning process, the City has increased patrols in the area surrounding this encampment and coordinated social services to provide assistance at the camp. The Bloomington Police Department continues to co-respond to calls with Sheriff's Deputies in the encampment area.

However, despite these efforts, Mayor Thomson believes that more needs to be done as the situation at the encampment continues to deteriorate. "The encampment is causing harm to everyone involved - from nearby residents and workers, to public safety teams who respond when something goes wrong, and most importantly, to those living there without a safer alternative," stated Mayor Thomson.

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Monroe County has announced plans to close the encampment by September 1st. However, Mayor Thomson believes this timeline is not soon enough given the repeated safety concerns that have arisen. She urges County partners to move up this timeline and assures them of the City's support in an accelerated closure process.

Having successfully closed all encampments on City-owned property over the past two years, Mayor Thomson emphasizes that responsible closure requires more than just setting a date. It involves persistent work with each individual living in an encampment - connecting them with resources such as shelter, housing, treatment options or reunification with their hometowns.

"Our Downtown Resource Officers and social workers know these individuals personally. They work alongside shelters, healthcare providers, housing navigators and nonprofit partners to find a real next step for each person. This may not make for an easy headline, but it produces the outcome that matters - fewer people living in crisis in our community," explained Mayor Thomson.

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The Mayor stresses that this same approach needs to be applied at the Thomson property, and the transition plan and closure should not be seen as competing timelines. "We need to act urgently on both fronts," she stated.

The City has shared their practices and protocols with County partners and remains in regular communication. They have also offered their resources and partnership to assist in the closure process. However, Mayor Thomson reminds that ultimately, it is Monroe County's responsibility as they own the property and have control over the site.

"The County has already acknowledged that the encampment must close, and now they must act with urgency, care, and responsibility to keep our community safe," urged Mayor Thomson.

She concludes by emphasizing that homelessness knows no jurisdictional boundaries, and it is everyone's responsibility to help those in need reach stability. "But partnership does not erase responsibility," she stated firmly. "Monroe County must do the right thing for our community."

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