Douglas County hosts legal 23-tent camp

In the name of safety and quality of life, DeKalb County banned urban camping in public places. Critics complain it targets the homeless unfairly. But in Douglas County, there is one public space people without homes can legally camp. Fox 5's Kevin Stewart joins us live in Douglasville with a closer look at this. How could this help the homeless, Kevin? Yeah, this is really interesting stuff. You know, tucked behind in these woods, back in those trees, it's something that's pretty unique and something that people used to push back on, but not so much anymore. Homeless encampment off Highway 92, Dallas Highway, broken up by Douglasville Police, the suburban homeless. And just about a mile away is Sheena Haven. Hebrew for new beginnings. 23 tents in the woods for the homeless. Anybody that just come from jail. I got one this week that their family member kicked them out. I've had a high school student. But no mental health cases. Don't call this a homeless encampment though. It's a transitional tent community for men. What's the difference? I will take you to a homeless camp. It's clean. For the past three years, right by the Douglas County Courthouse, this is where Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd's Daily Bread Ministry of Hope has given people like Will Barker a place to live. With the blessing of the Douglas County government, this is county land. Don't play no games. Drug and alcohol testing is mandatory. It's an accountability. We have a 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew, and I do not mean 6:01 unless you have a job, because none of these rules are to hurt anybody. They are to keep you safe, and I want you to succeed. When you leave here, I want you to fly. Barker has been in and out of jail and has lived here for three years. Why this as opposed to a traditional shelter? Well, because I was on probation at the time and I had nowhere else to go. And this is about the only place I can go. He cuts lawns and is looking for work to finally get his own place. It's been taking time. I'm not going to lie. Lila Myers has not given up on him and she believes God hasn't given up on Sheena Haven. God must like what we're doing because he keeps giving me money. Yeah, but no tax dollars, you know, that is county land, but no tax dollars are involved in this. Douglas County residents, the only people who can participate in this program, and they hope that wherever they find a home, maybe it's Douglas County, maybe it's someplace else. Also, this has been going on for 10 years, but has been at that location here for three years. We're live in Douglasville, Kevin Stewart, Fox 5 News. Kevin, thanks.