Over 100 people gathered on the lawn of the Monroe County Courthouse Friday night to speak and listen about the issue of homelessness in Bloomington.
The rally took place just days after the Bloomington Police Dept. went into Seminary Park and removed tents and other camping structures away from people using them as overnight shelter.
READ MORE: BPD Removes Tents And Camping Structures From Seminary Park Wednesday Night
Harry Collins is experiencing homelessness and spoke up to the large crowd.
“If this city and these government officials want us off the streets, then give us a place," Collins said. "Help get us off the streets.”
Earlier in the week, the Bloomington Board of Park Commissioners considered a policy change that would have prevented tent-use and camping in city parks during the daytime.
The current rules require people to have a permit to stay in a park between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., which prohibits camping and sleeping.
Collins said the vote against the policy change tricked people like him living in the park into thinking they could stay overnight.
"A lot of us felt like we got suckered in. They used a little bitty loophole that said it was not effective at night when a lot of us thought it was going to be," Collins said.
Several other issues were raised at the rally on how the community can do more to help people fight against homelessness. Topics like healthcare, job placement, and affordable housing were part of the discussion.
“The whole city system is completely broken down. We’re supposed to be this progressive, beautiful city of Bloomington and our government is the total opposite," local resident John Pritchett said.
But Collins said he doesn't blame everyone in Bloomington.
"They raised prices in this town for apartments that normal people cannot afford," Collins said. "Even if I had a job, which I can't get because I have a record, I can't pay whatever monthly rent is."
Throughout the rally one of the main sentiments expressed was that anyone can offer help.
“If everybody here went out and tried to help them, they’d probably not be there," local resident John Pritchett said. "There are enough people here right now to sponsor or help somebody get out.”
