ATHOL — At the board’s invitation, Building Inspector Bob Legare joined the June 28 meeting of Athol’s Board of Health to discuss what is euphemistically called “temporary housing.”

“I asked if you could drop in and help us a little with zoning,” board Vice Chair Joan Hamlett told Legare, “because I think before we move forward with any complaints that come in, or issues that we’re having, what does zoning say people can and can’t do in terms of temporary housing? What we’re seeing is tents on properties, campers on properties.”

“There’s not much in my code,” he said. “In the building code for ‘temporary,’ they have to meet all structural and fire codes, lights, ventilation and everything else. So, the only thing that really would cover is if somebody has a fire, they can bring in temporary housing, like a trailer, to live in.”

“What I’ve seen happening,” Hamlett replied, “is, somebody puts a camper with a generator to it and it’s plugged into the house, and you can tell that people are coming in and out. They’re there for the long term.”

Hamlett said her interest in the issue was sparked in part by comments made in posts she has seen on the local Facebook page.

“There was somebody that was living at the hotel in Orange,” she explained, “and they (had posted), ‘Can I have a ride to Cumberland Farms to set up my tent in the cemetery?’ That cemetery down along the river, by the McDonald’s, is where a lot of homeless people are setting up tents.”

Hamlett said much of the problem with tents and campers has to do with disposal of wastewater.

“I was told if I opened up my camper and let my kids sleep in overnight, that’s a violation,” said Hamlett, “even if they weren’t using the sink and the water and all that. You can’t be dumping gray water and you can’t be dumping toilet water down into the ground.

“And if you’re in a tent and you’re living permanently for the summer near the river, where are you going to the bathroom?”

“That’s a social issue,” board member Raenette Kramer interjected. “The homeless problem is a multifaceted issue.”

“And these people are working,” Hamlett continued. “So, we have working homeless, we don’t just have homelessness.”

Health Agent Deb Vondal said much of the problem stems from the lack of available affordable housing in North Quabbin.

“I’m not suggesting we drive around and if we see a tent or a camper that we do something about it,” said Hamlett. “But when neighbors start complaining, we can’t just ignore codes and things like that.

“What are we supposed to be doing about these situations?”

“We really need to address the homelessness issue in this community,” said Kramer. “I mean, we definitely have health concerns — they’re living in tents. But what can we do? It’s huge issue in this area.”

“Well, if we get complaints about it, we’re definitely going to have to address it,” Hamlett repeated. “And I know they were camping all up and down Millers River. They get moved. They were camping behind the water station and Water Department moved them along and they just moved further up the river.”

“There is a housing task force that’s been talking about the homeless,” said Vondal, “The nearest shelter is Greenfield. The YMCA is booked up. And so, the question is what do you do?” Kramer also pointed out that some of the homeless actually prefer living outdoors.

“They don’t want homes,” she said. “They’re perfectly OK in a tent. That’s what they want. They have addiction problems and they just want to be left alone.”

“So,” said Hamlett, “I think we have two different things going on — the whole social issue, and working with task force and whoever to help homeless people. And then we have disparate people who are working and looking for apartments, but now they’re living in campers parked on their friend’s, neighbor’s, cousin’s property for a month. Then you’re going to get neighbors who are going to start complaining.

“And if a neighbor complains about somebody living in a camper in a yard and we can’t not do something about it. And I know those complaints are coming. People are saying to me, ‘My neighbor is doing this, and I know people are living there, they’re there 24/7,’ and I explain that they can’t complain to me, they have to put a complaint in at the (Health Department) office.

Hamlett added that more evictions are in the offing because winter is over, and some landlords have gone without rent for a few months.

“How do we help these people,” queried Legare, “because we have no shelter and no temporary housing around here.”

After much discussion, no satisfying solutions for dealing with the myriad issues surrounding homelessness were found. It was agreed that more needs to be done and it was suggested state Rep. Susannah Whipps be contacted regarding any programs or grants the town or local non-profits could take advantage of, especially those of which officials may be unaware.

Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@gmail.com

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