Cleanup of encampment on Kensington Avenue completed, but what's next?
People, along with tents and other structures, were moved from the sidewalk along a two-block stretch.
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- An encampment along part of Kensington Avenue in the Kensington section of Philadelphia was cleared out on Wednesday morning, but the question remains: what happens now?
The effort, which the city called an "encampment resolution," started around 7 a.m., an hour earlier than city officials said it would.
Tape wrapped around the perimeter of the targeted zone, stretching two blocks down Kensington Avenue from Allegheny Avenue to East Orleans Street.
Philadelphia police prevented people from going into the work zone, as trucks and crews rolled up and down the street.
People, along with tents and other structures, were moved from the sidewalk along a two-block stretch.
It's an area where drug use has been pervasive for years. For the last month, outreach teams and social service agencies have been working with people there to find them drug treatment and a place to live.
The work was done by 10 a.m.
But many are asking: now that this encampment cleanout has occurred, what's next?
Philadelphia Public Safety Director Adam Greer said residents can contact the city if they see anyone setting up tents or other structures.
"If anyone attempts to set up any tents, any structures, those can be taken down immediately without having to do another encampment resolution. So we will have resources in the area. We will be making sure it doesn't return to what it is," said Greer.
The city has had a policy in place going back to 2017 during the Mayor Jim Kenney administration that includes giving people in encampments a 30-day notice of eviction.
Once that happens, they are not allowed to put up structures again.
Considering this was only a two-block stretch, Action News is asking city officials how many more times this will happen in this area.
A total of 59 people accepted housing and services through the 34-day encampment resolution process, including 19 who came in Wednesday. Of the 59 individuals accepted, city officials say four people were connected to drug and alcohol services, and 55 others were connected to housing assistance.
The city has not identified the locations where these services are being provided.
Megan Cohen, the founder and executive director of the Grace Project, says her organization is in Kensington every Thursday to provide wound care and food, and to clean up. Her main question is: where are the people who have accepted the city's help being taken to?
"I am begging for some transparency because I am wondering the same thing as everybody else, 'Where are they going?' I'm tired of hearing, 'We have resources or we have officials.' Where?" said Cohen.
Where exactly the people will go who refuse treatment has also not been disclosed. The office of Mayor Cherelle Parker said it isn't revealing the locations for privacy reasons.
A day before the major effort to clean up the neighborhood, Mayor Parker held a budget town hall at Rock Ministries. The church serves the community with outreaches and support for addicts and others in need.
Rock Ministries has played a crucial role in assisting the city's effort to provide outreach.
"Every person we get out of there back here into detox is one less body they have to deal with on the street," said Kevin Bernard, the chaplain and security director for Rock Ministries.
READ MORE: Rock Ministries of Philadelphia helping to clean up Kensington
Buddy Osborn, the senior pastor and church's founder, added, "We know there's a problem, it's been systemic for many years and the solution I believe starts with the mayor."
Community members want change but are unsure if it'll stay that way.
"They can't keep putting a Band-Aid on a problem this major. It's not ok to do," said Rosalind Pichardo, the director of Operation Save Our City.
