Placerville Homeless Camp Closing After 16 Months

PLACERVILLE, Calif. (AP) — A self-governing tent city of homeless residents in Placerville is closing after just 16 months following complaints the camp increased litter and property crime.

The Sacramento Bee reports the camp known as Hangtown Haven will be shut down Friday when its city permit expires. The social experiment was heralded by local officials and homeless activists in dealing with a problem of transients taking over local parks or setting fires in the woods.

The camp hosted 25 to 40 people at any given time and was kept clean and crime-free. Tents and other supplies were donated by local residents

But police said Placerville became a destination point for homeless people who came from as far as New York. As a result, thefts shot up by 60 percent.

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