Homeless population surges in Eugene, officials say

City officials blame it on a decision to not enforce camping bans during the pandemic.

The pandmeic... the city of eugene's parks and recreation department says the homeless population has exploded.

Kezi nine nes reporter connor mccarthy is live at the washington-- jefferson street park where the city says they are planning to start clearing out camps.

Matt and chynna-- officials from the parks and rec department say they are going to start clearing out the north end of the park behind me.

Officials say they started to see an increase in the homeless population after the city suspended the ban on camping.

The suspension was originally in place to keep the homeless population in one place during the pandemic.

But after an explosion in the population, the city lifted the suspension two weeks ago and will start clearing camps.

Officials say people from across the country have been flocking to eugene after hearing no one was enforcing the the no camping policy.

Officials from the city say the camp behind me isn't even the largest one in eugene.

They sat there are ones significantly bigger along the willamette river .

Live in eugene connor mccarthy kezi nine news.