Homeless Camp Resident: ‘We’re Just Trying To Get By’

The oversized, smiling faces of former Philadelphia TV news anchors Marc Howard and Denise Saunders help provide shelter for a group of about 25 homeless people living in the woods behind the Michael’s Carpet and Flooring on Route 13 in Bristol Township.

The former billboard featuring the faces of the news anchors are used to construct one of more than a dozen tents and small structures that dot the woods behind the flooring store.

Local advocates for Bucks County’s homeless alerted the media last week that they are concerned the residents of the homeless camp will be forced to move out soon due to complaints by neighbors. The move comes after several other camps throughout Lower Bucks County have been forced to move.

Thirty-seven-year-old Jessica is new to the camp of Route 13. She’s only been there a few weeks and says she doesn’t know what will happen if the camp is disbanded.

While her boyfriend holds a job, they don’t yet have enough money to rent a room or apartment. However, she notes it is something they are working toward.

Jessica doesn’t just have to deal with being homeless. She told a group from the Warming Hearts Project and two reporters that she just battled thyroid cancer and fears she has cancer again after she discovered a lump just below her neck.

She said the struggle for her is real, as she deals with a possible new bout of cancer, diabetes, a lack of a job and other health problems.

“It’s not that we choose to live like this. This is our only choice,” said April, a resident of the camp. “Yeah, there are some problems, but we try to keep it clean back here.”

Husband and wife John and Chryl said despite some recent issues involving former residents of the camp, the area is safe and they invite those curious to see what its like to stop back.

While the living situation is not ideal for Chryl, who deals with several medical issues, she said it’s the best her and John can do.

After job loss, Chryl and John moved in with family members in Florida and then Levittown before being forced to come to the muddy woods between Route 13 and Delaware Canal State Park. Now, Chryl says she has to change her colostomy bag in the tent she shares with her husband. The 44-year-old local native said she knows it’s not sanitary to change the colostomy bag inside a tent, but it’s her only choice.

“We do this to survive,” she said.

A middle-aged Quakertown woman living in the camp said she was forced to move to the Levittown area after problems at home. She fears her 23-year-old son, who is currently at the county shelter in Levittown, will be forced to live outside with her once his time at the shelter is done. She said getting medication needed for both their diabetes is a major concern for her.

All the residents polled said they hope they are allowed to stay. Warming Hearts Project leader and Bristol Borough businessman Joe Nocito is working with the residents to get them out of the cold and into shelters or apartments. As of last week, Warming Hearts Project members were working to see if the camp could stay behind the business. Nocito said the property owner said he has no problem with the camp, but said he would kick the residents out if the township started fining him. The business owner was not available for comment as of press time.

Recently, the residents of the camp got some help. An old RV with rotting floors and a dead battery was left near their encampment. The older vehicle has provided a structure for cooking, handing out and keeps them dry in the rain. The residents of the camp said they hope to fix the floor and get a new battery so they can get some electricity.

Camp resident “Shaky” said he hopes they are allowed to stay.

“We don’t cause problems and as you can see, we keep it clean back here,” he said. “We’re just trying to get by.”

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