St. Albans squatter finds shelter

From the Times Ledger:

A squatter who made her home in St. Albans Park, much to the anger and dismay of nearby residents, has been moved to a homeless shelter, the city said last week.

After three years of living on the street and littering the sidewalks with her trash, the unidentified woman was moved to a SafeHaven shelter, which is private housing used to meet the needs of the homeless and help them accept housing on their own, the city Department of Homeless Services said.

The agency sent out workers to speak with the woman in Creole, the only language she knew how to speak, and were able to convince her to leave the park.

“This was a successful collaboration between Homeless Services outreach teams, the NYPD and the Parks Department that led to a healthy living environment for a woman who had previously resorted to life on the streets. She will now receive much-needed services and supports,” the agency said in a statement.