In a press conference with the Office of the Attorney General and others, Lt. Gov. Joshua Tenorio spoke on a pressing issue on island.

“Being homeless is not a crime," he said.

On Friday, the Homeless Relocation Initiative was rolled out. The first focus addressed those living in the homeless encampments across the Micronesia Mall in Dededo now have less than five days to pack up and leave or could face getting arrested.

Chief Prosecutor Heather Zona from the OAG explained how it will go down if there are problems.

"In an instance where somebody is refusing to leave, they are then breaking the law," she said. "So we will have the police standing by. The police will be the ones to arrest and our office will prosecute as appropriate."

The AGs office is taking legal measures, posting a warning notice for them to vacate the premises citing criminal trespass and public nuisance laws.

Guam Attorney General Doug Moylan, Dededo Mayor Melissa Savares joined Tenorio for the announcement.

"The program initiative was intended to relocate, as the initiative states, these people from the current locations that they are at throughout the island to alternate locations to receive the help that they need to get back on their feet," Moylan said.

Tenorio said those living on the streets are being directed to the Dededo farmer’s market where they can receive assistance from various organizations.

"In a few days after the five-day notice, we will have a team assembled at the farmers market with the mayor," he said. "Whoever is left at that encampment, we will have wrap-around services so we can identify who they are, see where they are in the system and try to find them in other placement."

But one man living at the homeless encampment site tells KUAM News he was told something completely different.

"They said the old flea market. That’s where they’re going to stay, you know," he said. "The guy was telling these guys they can get help. I don’t know. And I was thinking that they need help because they don’t have a place. And they’re being homeless. It’s hard to be homeless."

The man wished to remain anonymous.

"We are trying to get all these people, to help all these people to move their stuff out," he said. "And think of where they’re going to stay around the area, in Dededo. Closer so they can stay safe and not get hurt."

All he’s hoping for is a safe place to call home.

In the meantime, Guam Homeless Coalition Chair Samantha Taitano said with homeless shelters at full capacity, relocating them is not so black and white.

“The question about relocating—where are we going to relocate them to? Sometimes it’s not as easy as finding a friend or family—and like I said, the shelters are at capacity and have waiting lists," she said. "It might mean that you say, 'you can’t be here anymore,' and then they just pop up somewhere else.”

Last year’s Point In Time homeless count survey reported 1,087 people experiencing homelessness.