BETHLEHEM, Pa. —- In frigid cold the morning of Dec. 15, Norfolk Southern Railroad Police and city authorities oversaw the displacement of a homeless encampment spanning parcels along the Lehigh River and surrounding the city’s connector bridges.
They stood watch as an excavator rumbled, toppling foliage just down from a trailhead off Lehigh Street.
That day, at least a half-dozen people still were figuring out what to do and where to go next.
In August, property owner Norfolk Southern sent its request for city police assistance in “facilitating the removal” of the homeless encampment because of safety concerns and fire hazards.
“Cleanup on the Norfolk Southern property will include the downing of trees to deter people from reestablishing camps."
City of Bethlehem
Also being cleared is land owned by UGI and the state Transportation Department to the west of the Fahy Bridge, as well as a city-owned “heavily wooded steep slope tucked between the Nisky Hill Cemetery and the affected Norfolk Southern site,” according to city officials.
In November, Bethlehem decided to post regarding notice for its land “on the heels of several public safety emergencies where first responders faced numerous obstacles assisting injured individuals.”
Railroad officials estimate cleanup of the "informal living areas of unsheltered individuals," led by a third-party contractor, will take about two weeks.
More work may be needed for the city-owned land, according to a document shared by the city.
“Cleanup on the Norfolk Southern property will include the downing of trees to deter people from reestablishing camps,” it reads.
The affected population
For now, the city’s Community Connections program — a Bethlehem Health Bureau and Police Department joint collaboration linking those in need with local social services organizations — had the following information to share:
- Since the August eviction notice from the railroad, 92 unique individuals have lived on the property.
- Two weeks ahead of the Dec. 15 eviction, there were an estimated 44 people still on site. A week ahead, there were around 10, all who said they planned to relocate by the deadline.
- Community Connections engaged with all of the 92 people and connected 78 with social services — including 11 with justice system navigation and compliance support, four with employment, three with substance-use treatment and 71 with other medical attention. “This work will continue,” city officials said.
- Seventy-five of the 92 people relocated, including 31 to other outdoor locations, 12 to Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering and three to out of the area or rejoining family. Eleven had outstanding criminal warrants and were arrested (BPD reported no arrests the day of the eviction).
- Three Coordinated Assistance Resource Events at nearby Sand Island for unsheltered population over the past three months.
- On Dec. 15, the Health Bureau had its mobile health clinic on site. “BPD and Community Connections accompanied Norfolk Southern and facilitated the relocation of any remaining individuals and connected them to social services.”
- Confirmed by Bob Rapp of BES, the shelter has been at or near capacity for men’s beds and has had limited beds open for women.
- City and BES are working toward rehabilitating the shelter at 75 E. Market St. to convert it to year-round operation. It currently operates in an overnight capacity from Nov. 1 through April 30. Bethlehem has put $2 million to the $6 million project.
- Bethlehem also will join Lehigh Conference of Churches in converting Packer Avenue apartment building into an 11-unit emergency shelter to open later in 2027 or early in 2028.
- Bethlehem is an active member of the Lehigh Valley Regional Homelessness Advisory Governing Board.
'Supremely depressing'
A man who asked to be identified as Julius, 32, who was affected personally by the eviction, told LehighValleyNews.com he felt that city officials were approaching the situation with nuance as needed.
But Julius said he’d like to see more social service workers involved who have “a more intimate relationship” with homelessness.
The day after the eviction, Bethlehem resident Valerie Noonan, who assisted those affected at the eviction site the day prior, told City Council she found the scenario at hand to be “supremely depressing.”
“I’d just like you to try and imagine for a moment having to take the very few possessions you have, ball them into a tarp and drag them a few hundred feet away ... "
Lee, a mutual-aid volunteer from Bethlehem
“I’d just like you to try and imagine for a moment having to take the very few possessions you have, ball them into a tarp and drag them a few hundred feet away from where you’re camped under a bridge to sit there for hours in the freezing cold with no resources or help to relocate your possessions,” said Lee, another mutual-aid volunteer from Bethlehem.
Bethlehem Police Chief Michelle Kott has said the displacement was sparked mostly by citizen complaints.
“The last thing we want to do is arrest anyone for trespass,” Kott previously said.