An Austin, Texas, resident who has documented the city's homeless crisis shared a video Wednesday showing a greenbelt destroyed by a homeless encampment.
The Barton Creek Greenbelt in South Austin extends along Barton Creek and connects to Barton Springs Pool, a popular area frequented by city residents.
The Barton Creek Greenbelt in Austin. (HYPHEN)
Jamie Hammond, who uploads videos to the account “Documenting Austin's Streets and Homeless”, said the greenbelt had become “so bad”. He said trash and debris from the encampment — including trash and needles — was falling into Barton Creek, which flows toward Barton Springs.
“If it doesn't bother people, nothing will,” Hammond said in the video, as he toured the wreckage. “Madness.”
Last month, Hammond partnered with the Nomadik Group to develop an interactive AI-powered map documenting the city's homeless crisis. The map clearly shows where homeless encampments are concentrated throughout the city.
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On Thursday, a bush fire broke out in the same camp.
The Austin Fire Department said it was responding to a brush alarm in the Greenbelt near the 4000 block of S Capital “near the former Toys R US.”
Later, the AFD indicated that the fire had been “extinguished” in the green belt. Crews continued to work to extinguish and control the fire.
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City officials told Fox News Digital that outreach efforts at the encampment are underway and a cleanup is planned in the coming weeks.