Homeless residents pack to leave after being ordered to vacate privately-owned property south of downtown Raleigh. High rents and deposit fee requirements are making it impossible for hundreds of thousands of low-income Americans to gain access to a permanent residence. (Photo: Greg Childress)
Shakamie appeared comfortable holding court last week to discuss homelessness with a reporter and several of his friends in the Circle K parking lot off of Highway 70 near the Interstate 40, south of downtown Raleigh. He and others in an impromptu circle were part of an encampment for people experiencing homelessness on the expansive, wooded lot behind the busy convenience store.
The Raleigh Police Department had recently paid a visit to the encampment to give inhabitants a deadline to move. Several of those encircling Shakamie had been part of a similar encampment a few miles east of the Circle K near the Raleigh-Garner border. Law enforcement officials closed that camp in April.
