Residents press Pasco County to shut down nearby homeless encampments; commissioners seek options

Residents and nearby homeowners used the public-comment period Jan. 28 to urge Pasco County commissioners to take immediate action against a homeless encampment near Green Key Road and other East Pasco locations.

Irene Welch, who said she lives two houses from the encampment, told the board her autistic child was attacked and described on-site fires, tent camps and drug activity. Another resident, who identified herself as a fireman's wife, said tents and debris left on the property were an ignition risk and pleaded with the board to "please shut this down." Several speakers asked the county to hold absentee landowners accountable for unauthorized encampments on private property.

Chair and commissioners acknowledged the complaints and asked staff to respond. The chair asked county staff, including County Administrator David Allen and public-works representative Chase Daniels, to meet with residents and first responders and produce a plan to address the immediate public-safety risks and cleanup. Commissioner Waitman voiced support for decisive enforcement that would reduce repeat transient activity and suggested options including relocation or transport out of county for nonresidents.

Commissioners and staff also discussed the limits of county authority: some landowners live out of state or overseas and must be located and provided a trespass agreement to remove encampments on private property. Officials said the county had tools to pursue trespass enforcement and cleanup but that execution sometimes requires landowner cooperation. The board asked staff to report back after the on-site meeting.

No formal policy changes were adopted at the meeting; the board's immediate action was to direct staff to coordinate a response with law enforcement and county operations and to report back with findings and proposed next steps.