A “tent city” sits on Norfolk Southern Corporation property in Pottstown. It is adjacent to Montgomery County Community College’s satellite campus, bordering College Drive and the railroad tracks just on the edge of the Schuylkill River. As part of a broader effort to sweep the encampment and offer short-term housing at a nearby hotel, yellow signs were taped to trees ordering residents to leave by Jan. 2, 2025. The signs state all “unauthorized” materials and structures will be removed and personal property disposed of. Reading-based homeless service provider Opportunity House is leading the intake efforts at Tent City, and the organization said the approach was made possible by support from “local private funders” and Norfolk Southern. There are 20 hotel rooms available for 40 residents of the encampment through the beginning of spring and, according to Opportunity House, the cohort of collaborators is working on a plan to extend short-term housing services until Pottstown Beacon of Hope is able to build a permanent shelter in 2025. Read more from WHYY.
Source: WHYY; 12/2/2024