Nearly a dozen Troy Public Works trucks were seen arriving near Prospect Park Wednesday to remove a homeless encampment that Mayor Carmella Mantello said has been active for several months on property owned by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

“When the leaves fell, people started noticing the encampment,” said Mantello, who won election to the position in November.

Along with several tents, the site was piled high with personal belongings, including some children’s items. Those living there had also built an outhouse.

“They were using buckets to defecate and things of that nature. It’s very inhumane how they’re living,” said Mantello.

After taking office this month, Mantello says the city was made aware of the presence of propane tanks and drug paraphernalia at the site — where officials believe anywhere from six to a dozen people had been living at any given time since last spring.

“We truly feel for these folks, but at the same time, it really is unsafe living conditions. It’s a public safety nightmare waiting to happen with the propane tanks,” said Mantello.

The mayor said the effort was unrelated and planned prior to the recent circulation of a video on social media allegedly showing an employee at Uncle Sam Lanes apparently ejecting a man from the business before trying to throw water on him.

The effort to remove the encampment was undertaken in collaboration with city police and Joseph’s House and Shelter, which is working to offer housing and services to the unhoused individuals living there, officials said.

“The folks that we’ve encountered, we’ve been able to have good conversations with them… How can we help you feel safe, be safe? How can we help you know that you’re important?” said Joseph’s House and Shelter Executive Director Amy LaFountain.

LaFountain said it’s critical to ensure there is enough affordable housing and accessible resources in Troy, and she looks forward to working more with city officials to combat homelessness.

“My hope is that after today is over, we’ll meet and look at lessons learned. Should we ever encounter something like this again… how we would do it differently,” said LaFountain.

Troy police officers and staff at Joseph’s House and Shelter made several visits to the encampment over the last week to notify those living there it would be cleared and help provide them with resources. Only two remaining people were living at the encampment when officials arrived Wednesday.

In a statement released to Spectrum News 1, RPI said, “RPI has been cooperating with the City of Troy as it works with Joseph’s House and Shelter to provide shelter and other services to unhoused individuals near the intersection of Congress and Ferry streets. We care about the well-being of the community and our faculty, students and staff regularly volunteer with local organizations dedicated to that cause. We appreciate the city’s partnership as we continue to work together to care for all members of the Troy community."