Residents of Lancaster homeless camp told to leave days before Christmas

LANCASTER, S.C. — People who have been living under a Lancaster bridge are now being told that they need to go.

They have been camped out near the boat ramp under the Highway 9 bridge, which is not far from the Chester County line. Lancaster County Sheriff deputies told Channel 9′s Tina Terry that they have had several complaints about the encampment.

In a Facebook post with more than 300 responses, a woman said sheriff’s deputies have asked people who live there to vacate the area by Dec. 20. She calls the area ‘a community’ and said it’s heartbreaking that they’re being forced to leave right before Christmas without many options.

Deputies said Duke Energy and private citizens own the land surrounding the right of way.

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“I know for a fact the individuals have been approached and told they can come here,” Emily Price said of the Lancaster area coalition for the Homeless and helps run the warming center that opened earlier this month.

Price said she is ready to accommodate people who live under the bridge on cold nights.

“This addresses an immediate need that we have in the community,” Price said. “Obviously the hope is that we work toward a homeless shelter. That’s a little more long term in the sense that people can stay longer hours.”

The sheriff’s office says it also had reports of drugs being sold in this area and other crimes.

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