October 3, 2009 Falugo not quitting on 'Tent City' residents Play video

(NECN: Tom Langford, Providence, R.I.) - A group of homeless people in Rhode Island were in search for a new place to live, after getting the boot from a "tent city" built on a vacant lot in the state capital.

The lot's owner gave them permission to camp on his land, but the tents have upset some neighbors.

The "tent city", located on Westminster Street, has been home to between 10 and 20 homeless people since Labor Day. People like Travis Garcia, an 18-year-old who lost his apartment after he got arrested last spring.

"We do our own thing, we stay to ourselves, we're trying to find jobs," Garcia said. "I'd rather be in a nice apartment, but it takes a while to get a nice apartment."

Garcia and the other residents of what they calls "Camp Provitents" used to live under a highway near downtown, but were kicked out by the state. That was when they were invited to live on the vacant lot owned by Mark Falugo, a former Marine with a compassionate streak.

"How can you drive by and see all these people with no place to go and nobody doing anything?" Falugo asked. "This land has been in my family and empty forever, so I thought I'd put it too good use."

Some neighbors and business owners in the mixed-use neighborhood did not see the situation as Falugo did.

After going to the city with the situation, it was taken to court. Friday, a judge ordered the property vacated by October 13th.

"I was hoping for better results, even

though the writing was on the wall," Falugo said. "The city considers the tents dwellings that have to meet minimum housing code. I thought that was absolutely ridiculous."

Still, Falugo said he never intended for this to be permanent, and that he has already started work on finding residents low-income apartments. Several have already been placed.

Alex Kollar, whose condo building overlooks the tents, said for the safety of the resident that he is glad the homeless are moving off the lot.

"They're going to ultimately be better off in those new homes or enclosed areas," Kollar said.

Garcia said that he is not sure where he will end up. He shuns shelters, because he said they are crowded and filled with drunks. He may try to get in touch with family in New York. Although, through this experience, he said he has already found family.

"Mark was like a father. He came out and put me under a tent. And I feel better now that I have somewhere to go -- at least until the 13th."