Crews clean up half-mile stretch of garbage left behind by homeless encampments

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Crews are working on cleaning up garbage left behind by several homeless encampments in the Milwood Neighborhood.

About two months ago, Kalamazoo River clean up crews found the encampments off of Redmond Avenue along Portage Creek. They alerted city officials, and the people living in those encampments were told to leave.

“I mean, there’s so much stuff all over the place that it’s going to take forever to clean up every bit of trash in this woods,” Skyler Jones, contractor with 269 Dumpster LLC, said.

However, neighbors complained that everything else was left behind, including piles of garbage, tarps, clothing, food wrappers and needles.

Pictured: Homeless encampment at the end of Leona Avenue behind railroad tracks along Portage Creek. The City of Kalamazoo is working with the property owners to get the garbage cleaned up. (Amanda Perkins/WWMT)

Because it’s a privately-owned lot, property owners Plastics Place LLC are responsible to get the mess cleaned up, according to City of Kalamazoo Communications Manager Mike Smith.

A nuisance case was issued last month and a property inspection was done Aug. 31.

Jones told News Channel 3 that his crews have been cleaning up the half-mile stretch of land since Friday when they were hired by Plastics Place LLC.

Pictured: Clean up progress at homeless encampment off Redmond Avenue, along Portage Creek Sept. 8, 2026. (Autumn Pitchure/WWMT).

While Jones is happy to help, he says it’s unfair property owners who had nothing to do with the encampments have to deal with the headache.

“The cops can come and get rid of the people, but as soon as they leave their stuff behind, it’s your problem,” Jones said.

Smith said if the property is not in compliance upon reinspection, “staff will proceed with a compliance order to clean up areas of concern.” Though a reinspection date has not yet been set.

“There is a lot of pressure to get this done fast,” Jones said.

Jones hopes to have the mess taken care of by Sept. 11.

Pictured: Clean up progress at homeless encampment off Redmond Avenue, along Portage Creek Sept. 8, 2026. (Autumn Pitchure/WWMT).

The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety (KDPS) does not grant permission for individuals to establish camps on public or private property.

KDPS’s Community Service Team actively conducts patrols and checks in areas where past or current encampments have been identified, according to Public Information Officer Zach Hamelton.

Enforcement action may be taken when there are violations of law or ordinance, trespassing, repeat contacts, or other circumstances that warrant enforcement, according to Hamelton.

KDPS’s Community Service Team also provides people with information about available resources.

“The goal is to address the immediate issue while also connecting individuals with resources that may help prevent them from simply relocating to another area,” Hamelton said.