La Plata works to keep homeless camp clean

durango» La Plata County is working to keep a Durango-area homeless camp clean and safe.

The Durango Herald reported that the La Plata Sheriff’s Office has started an educational campaign with homeless residents to keep encampments clean.

Lt. Ed Aber, who started the effort, says the sheriff’s office has told residents that camps will be left alone as long as they are kept clean and campers obey the law.

Also helping promote clean campsites is Manna Soup Kitchen, which started exchanging services at the kitchen for trash bags brought in from campsites.

Aber says the combination of the sheriff ’s efforts and Manna’s program has had a marked reduction on trash at homeless camps.

In spring 2015 there were 13 pickup truck loads, and in spring 2016 there were only eight truckloads.