HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) -
Some residents of Midtown Harrisburg are upset that members of the Occupy Harrisburg movement have been camping out in their neighborhood.
The protestors have been residing in tents on the grounds of the Harrisburg Quaker Meeting property on North Sixth Street.
"It's been increasing," said Midtown resident John Harley. "They went from two in the beginning in May to about 12 to 15 that are there now."
Hartley says he understands the people need a facility, but he doesn't think a residential neighborhood is the proper spot for so many homeless people.
"They're right beside a day care center," said Hartley. "I contacted Children and Youth Services and they said there was nothing they could do."
Meeting house officials said when the protestors' presence was restricted at the Capitol, the Quakers offered their property based on the religious organization's history of non-violent protest.
"The Occupy Movement is a non-violent movement and we felt that looking at our history and looking at their goals, that it was an appropriate thing to do," said Carter Nash, the Assistant Clerk of the Harrisburg Monthly Meeting of Quakers.
The Quakers prohibit drugs or alcohol on the property and said they have monitored the clientele, finding only a few problems.
"We have asked those people to leave and they have left," Nash said.
Nash said city officials gave their approval to the protestors living on the Quaker property.
