The city of Philadelphia is taking action to clear a homeless encampment in the Kensington area, known as the “East Coast’s largest open-air drug market” and the “center of Philadelphia’s opioid crisis.” This move fulfills a campaign promise made by newly-elected Mayor Cherelle Parker to address the violence associated with rampant drug use and homelessness in the area.
The temporary closure is necessary to ensure the safety of City outreach teams as they work towards resolving the encampment on May 8. Residents have been notified to dismantle any structures posing public health and safety hazards.
The Kensington section of Philadelphia has been heavily impacted by the illegal opioid trade, resulting in numerous fatal overdoses and shootings. The city’s efforts to remove the encampment mark the final stage of a month-long resolution process that began in April.
Mayor Parker’s initiatives aim to make Philadelphia the nation’s “safest, cleanest, greenest big city.”
