Atlantic City working to break up homeless encampments [Video]

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — Homeless encampments have long been a problem with elusive solutions for officials in Atlantic City. But for the first time in recent history, every government agency in the city, as well as casino groups and other community organizations, are working together to tackle the issue.

The initiative first offers services to people in need, then begins to break up encampments in places they shouldn’t be, like under the boardwalk. Over the years, there have been several encampment fires on the boardwalk, like Garden Pier, creating safety hazards.

Emergency Management Coordinator Scott Evans said people would live under Garden Pier for weeks to months on end. But now, this coordinated approach is already proving successful.

“It’s critical for the right hand to know what the left hand is doing, for every department that has a role plays their part and passes the ball to the next person,” he said.

Department …