Multiple agencies coordinated a cleanup this morning at the Alupang Island homeless encampment that raised safety concerns in recent weeks. Outreach officials were also ready to assist, but those squatting at the island were nowhere to be found. 

On Friday morning in Hagatna Bay, crews from multiple agencies were seen hauling away various junk from the homeless encampment that’s taken over Alupang Island.  The major cleanup was coordinated by the Department of Parks & Recreation, with the help of the Islandwide Beautification Task Force, the Tamuning-Tumon-Harmon Mayor’s Office, the Guam Police Department, and even local business Joe’s Jet Ski. 

Acting director of Parks & Rec Warren Pelletier told KUAM News,"We’re out there to clean the island and get it back to its natural pristine [state], the way it should be." The cleanup comes as public safety and environmental concerns have been building for weeks. 

Tamuning Vice Mayor Albert Toves said, "If there’s no running water or sewage in the area, then that becomes a health hazard for not only the people in the encampment, but for the people in the surrounding areas."

On friday, what’s suspected to be drug paraphernalia was discovered at the encampment.  "Probably ice or heroin," speculated Pelletier, who says on Monday, Park Police issued a notice to vacate the island, which is Chamoru Land Trust property.  He adds the Division of Homelessness and Poverty Prevention was ready to assist with outreach services, but there was no one there during the cleanup.

"The government, Adelup in particular, has been laser focused on getting all encampments and all homeless taken care of. The problem is this is a growing problem on Guam," said Pelletier.

A growing and complex problem as those pushed out from one encampment sometimes relocate to another or even refuse help. "Our Park Police visit over 40 parks a day and at almost every park, there’s a homeless individual there. They know our timing and they relocate throughout the day," he said. "Every single homeless person at every park has been offered assistance. It’s them that refuse the assistance."

Though the encampment has been cleared, the underlying issues of homelessness remain unresolved.

Chris Flores with the IBTF said, "We have shelters but they don’t want to be in by a certain time. You can't drink, you can’t smoke in these shelters and they don’t want to abide by the rules so they’re on their own. It’s their choice. It’s just a shame. But we’re going to address the problem. We’re going to continue to address it and we just hope for the best."