Yes, this has been an ongoing issue for a few years. I am a homeowner and have done my best to get someone to listen to me with either: either the property management company or the association board. I have been told by representatives at the police department that the only way to stop this is for the association to hire a private security firm and secure the perimeter of the property. I am willing to pay an assessment for this; safety first, plus it adversely impacts property values and that's the last thing any of us want. I, myself, have been intimidated recently by the homeless walking through the back parking lot. I was on my way to my car from my condo unit to head out to work, and three very rough looking characters cut through the parking lot and acted like they were strung out on drugs. I also drive my trash to the dumpster and circle the area before exiting my car because I'm fearful someone is lurking and hiding. The path to their "camp" is right by the dumpster. This will not stop until a Warrenton Mill resident or guest is harmed in some way. Until then, this problem will continue to fall on deaf ears with the property managers and the board. The other option is for homeowners to band together and fight this, but we would need a majority on board. This is definitely a huge problem. I even approached the Torrington Register Citizen last year -- and they did absolutely nothing. I suggested sending a photographer up to the tent city with a camera and doing a story to bring the community's attention to this problem. It went nowhere. For whatever reason, people are afraid to address this problem. No "officials" seem to want to touch it. The only recourse is for Warrenton Mill homeowners to band together and address this as a group.

I second the notion for Warrenton Mill homeowners to do something collectively. Seems like it hasn't been done thus far. I don't want to resort to walking my dog and taking out the trash armed.

Also, these people are "living" pretty close to houses that are on Red Mountain Ave as well. You can even see their "camp site" from Google maps. https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8196097,-73.1245157,118m/data=!3m1!1e3

Let's see if we can mobilize a meeting of Warrenton Mill residents to address this situation. If you live at the Mill, please spread the word that we can do something if we work in concert. Tell your neighbors. On an individual basis, we will get absolutely nowhere. Many of us have tried. My suggestion is that those who are interested in talking about how we might work together to peacefully, sanely and effectively address this problem and protect our safety and investment (for those who own their condo at the Mill), meet this coming Saturday at 1 p.m. in the lobby area of the Warrenton Mill complex. Let's do a quick 5 or 10-minute meeting to introduce ourselves, exchange email addresses, etc. and get formally introduced to each other. Then we'll organize and plan for a more formal meeting in the near future (next week) where we actually develop some strategies and recommended solutions for addressing this problem. I do feel badly for the people who are living in that tent city. Times are really rough. BUT...the smoke from their fires is filling up the Warrenton Mill complex, plus there is a chance for a fire to come roaring down through that woods and into the complexl. It wouldn't take much to set that place ablaze, given all of the wood and its age! And then there is the intimidation factor of the people in the camp going through our trash, walking through private property where we live to access their camp, etc. If you want to do something about this and you live at the Mill or if you are a resident of Red Mountain Ave. and want to join us, meet in the lobby of the Warrenton Mill for a quick "meet and greet" this Saturday, July 26 at 1 p.m. Who's in? I will warn you, though, this will not be easy. The one time the property management company tried to address the situation (and it was a half-hearted attempt), the Mill was retaliated against by the residents of the homeless camp. Somehow, they gained access to a building and painted all types of graffiti on the walls of one of the buildings. So this won't be easy, but I think we can do it if we band together. I am tired of being told nothing can be done and feeling like a victim in my own home.

I am one of the homeless who live in "Tent City". I've been up here with my boyfriend since Easter. I work almost 40 hours a week. My boyfriend has 2 jobs and we still can't seem to find a place to rent to get out of the woods. As far as the FISH shelter goes in Torrington, it's full. The answer everyone seems to have is to call 211 and go to the Gathering Place on Prospect. I'll tell you from experience that those places don't really help. The Gathering Place did an intake on me in April. I scored a 5 out of 17, putting me not very high on the list for help. I don't drink, don't do drugs, have never been arrested, and don't have kids. My boyfriend went through intake in March. He scored at 13 out of 17. The only place Gathering Place has found to put me was the Winsted Y, a place that is bedbug ridden and a known crack house. The only place Gathering Place found to put my boyfriend was at FISH but that would've left me in the woods by myself, which he didn't want to do. I'll admit it...I cut through the mill most of the time. I walk as close to the woods as I can get. I don't go in the dumpsters and try and stay away from peoples cars. There is a path that goes through the woods and comes out behind Town Fair but the woods are so tick infested that I don't want to have to get treated for Lyme disease again. Sometimes, we do go all the way around and come in off Newfield Rd but that was is so inconvenient to where I work.

The "Tent City" behind the Warrenton Mill has recently moved much closer to the actual condo complex itself. In fact, tents are now erected only about 500 feet from this private complex's dumpsters near the back part of the property. Residents, myself included, are now afraid to walk their dogs and take their trash out because of this latest development. Many are also afraid of the homeless people who traipse through our parking areas on their way to the camp. The path up to their camp is about two feet from our dumpsters. While I'm sure there are some, like "Lissa" who commented on this forum earlier, who have fallen onto hard times through no fault of their own, I'm quite sure there are many others who do not have the intentions she does: They appear strung out on alcohol and/or drugs, their eyes are bugging out and they literally strut through the condo complex like they own the place while carrying bottles of liquor in brown paper bags. At one point last year or the year before (I can't remember exactly when it was), residents had enough and complained to officials. There was an aggressive attempt to rid the woods behind the Mill of this Tent City. It worked for a brief while. However, the residents of the Tent City retaliated and spray painted graffiti on the inside walls of one of the Warrenton Mill's buildings. The Warrenton Mill is not public housing. This is a private condominium complex, and it is not inexpensive to live at the Mill. While I feel for the plight of the homeless, it is not right that property owners at the Mill have to bear this burden. The Warrenton Mill is a peaceful, beautiful property. If anyone has any ideas of what can be done to keep it that way and out of the intimidating hands of those who reside in the Tent City that is literally in our backyard, please share your ideas because I have tried to do all I can these past few years and any attempt has fallen on deaf ears. Lissa, I appreciate your problems, but everyone has a burden to bear. We are each responsible for ourselves. I am sorry you are homeless, but I do not believe that gives you and the others who reside in the Tent City the right to encroach upon the home of those who reside at the Warrenton Mill. Instead of telling us about your problems, Lissa, maybe you can share what you think might be some solutions. What could the residents of the Mill do to help you and others who live in the Tent City behind our property that would be fair and mutually beneficial to all: the residents of the Mill and the residents of the Tent City? This situation cannot continue, because the residents of the Warrenton Mill are fearful to walk to their cars, walk their dogs and take their trash out. Not to mention it's a pretty property to just walk around for exercise! Solutions? Anyone?

A flash mob setting up a tent city on city hall's front lawn with a big campfire blazing. My arguement would be "since the city thinks it's okay to swat around our homes we though we would sqat on yours"

I used to love living at the Warrenton Mills. I ended up moving out a year ago because of how management operated and I just saw the place falling apart. I do have respect for the people that are homeless and trying to make it out of hard times like Lissa. I always have that fear of being in hard times and I do think everyone deserves a chance to better themselves. In my opinion no one should have to go without shelter and without a warm meal.

Anyway, when I was living at the Mills I always noticed that it kind of smelled like a camp fire. I enjoyed the smell, until that one day we went hiking and found the homeless camp. There were beer bottles, liquor bottles, and garbage all over the place. It did not look like a friendly sort of camp.

I did eventually tell management at the Mills that there was a homeless camp on the property and they said they could not do anything about it. I wish there was a solution to make everyone happy and comfortable. My solution was to just leave the Mills. But that was after my roof started leaking and they didnt fix it until a year later, things would break and they would take a few weeks or months to fix, and our friends motorcycle got stolen. Really the "Tent City" was just one other problem that the Mills refused to come up with a solution for.

I am going to leave this issue open so maybe we can get some thoughts on solutions. I personally have none right now because I haven't been there in a year and I don't know how things are now.

It is true that the City of Torrington, The Warrenton Mill Property Management and the Warrenton Mill Condo Association Board will not do anything to help the residents of the Mill. I have even gone to the local newspaper about this in the past, and they have ignored me. Any and all complaints fall on deaf ears. The only people who seem to care are the Torrington police officers, and there is only so much they can do without the help and support of others in the community.

No one will touch this issue because it's deemed "politically incorrect" and they don't want to be seen as being insensitive to the plight of the homeless.

The response/advice from the condo association and the property management office is to call the police if you see any nefarious goings on.

I am tired of calling the police. I would be calling them every day if I took this advice.

In the past month I have had super glue put on my car windshield and my windshield scratched, my new car has been keyed to the point that I simply don't care anymore because to care would mean that I would be perpetually upset--because every morning when I walk out there is a new mark. And just yesterday afternoon I was harassed by a group of skanky-looking adult men who were either high or drunk as they made their way through the Warrenton Mill's private parking lot as I walked from my car to my condo unit. I have no idea if they were part of the Tent City people, but that's the direction in which they were headed.

Soon those living at Tent City will be inside our condos. I say that only half-kiddingly, because the situation is very dire here and becoming more so by the day. Now their tents are much closer to the Mill, and they have become much more brazen about walking through the parking lot, loitering in the lot at night, building campfires with materials other than wood (I think some of what they are burning are probably toxic items like plastic bottles). The smoke wafts downwind onto our property. The Torrington Fire Dept. has been here at least once this week. They are here on an almost weekly basis, if not more. Let's face it: These homeless people own the Mill now. They have more rights than the homeowners and residents of the Mill. No board of any authority will address this situation, and the Tent City dwellers know this and as a result have become emboldened.

Here's what needs to happen: The Warrenton Mill Board and Property Management need to make this problem a priority issue and work with city and state officials to put a stop to this situation. The board also needs to ante up some money to hire a security guard to patrol the Mill property at night. They also need to install security cameras (there are cameras in various places at the Mill; now is the time to make them operational), and consider putting a fence around the perimeter of the property. This needs to happen before spending association funds on fixing the windows!

My fear is nothing will be done until someone is seriously hurt or worse. Any officials reading this: Please help us. We don't dislike homeless people. We sympathize and are concerned with their plight. But they are encroaching on our homes and creating an unsafe environment, and decimating our property values. Something must be done about this before it becomes too late.

How about contacting the news stations. They have reporters troubleshooting issues. Maybe that will embarrass the local officials enough to do something. Yes, we all are compassionate to the less fortunate but this situation is far beyond. I would think the health dept would have grounds to shut it down. There are no bathrooms up there so they are going in the woods.The town encourages the homeless and downtrodden to come here with all the social services. They are feeding the monster. Now there is other camps around the city. Is this the new norm?

Here's a challenge to WFSB and the Torrington Register Citizen, both organizations that subscribe to this particular topic in See, Click, Fix: Come to the Warrenton Mill and cover this issue. We will show you how close Tent City is to our condo complex, and you can see for yourself what residents of this complex are up against. You have signed up to monitor this situation, so you're obviously interested. Why not come out and cover it?

Here is a challenge to WFSB and the Torrington Register Citizen, both news organizations that have signed up to receive alerts on this particular issue as posts appear on See,Click,Fix: You are obviously interested in what's happening up in the Tent City behind the Warrenton Mill condo complex. So why not come out and cover the story?!? Someone will be happy to show you the campsite, and how it adversely impacts the daily lives of those who own and rent at this condo complex.

Frankly, I doubt if any media will do a story on this. I have reached out to the media in the past but to no avail. There is a story here; the problem is that people do not want to go out on a limb and talk about this in a public forum because homelessness is a politically charged issue. I will be very surprised if anyone has the courage to touch this.

Again, those of us who live at the Mill are saddened by the plight of the homeless. But this problem must be resolved to the benefit of those who are living in the Tent City AND to the benefit of those who live at the Warrenton Mill. The situation is escalating, and what's happening in the woods behind the Mill is a humanitarian crisis on the local level. This is a local story. Please, cover it!

The RepulicanAmerican printed it up this morning. I posted at the Register wondering why no coverage. They removed my posts and later finally printed the story. I don't know who is in who's pocket in town, but they do a good job suppressing the real state of affairs here in town. I dug around in the city ordinances and found nothing that addressed camping on private land.

WiFSB. on your side. #860-244-1640 Someone that resides there would be best to call and lay out the problem.

Thanks for the heads-up about the Rep-Am article. Here's the link for anyone who hasn't seen it: http://www.rep-am.com/news/local/doc55fa4082d7e29360320936.txt

Where is the Mayor Torrington?! Time to address this issue once and for all.

As far as calling WFSB on your side, it would be better if the news media would simply show up on their own, view the camp themselves and talk to condo officials and city officials about the problem. Some residents of the Warrenton Mill would probably talk, as well, but they will not want to go on record. Late afternoon/evening is a good time to come, because that's when things really start to heat up at Tent City. Residents who live at the Mill are afraid of contacting the media for fear of retaliation from the Warrenton Mill's property management company, the condo association board and the homeless themselves. A large contingent of Warrenton Mill residents showed up at the last monthly board meeting to request that the Association address this problem collectively, as an Association. Instead, the board refused and told residents to address the matter individually and handed out addresses and phone numbers of city officials. It really is a sad and escalating situation for both those who live in the Tent City and the residents of the Warrenton Mill. There must be some way to resolve this matter. Nothing is impossible. We just have to find a way.

What if you stated that there has been retribution against the residents, and would like to remain anonymous. Police and fire calls are public knowledge. For the police to say they can't give an accurate number of times they have responded, seems to be a thin excuse. As I stated earlier, what about the health dept, human waste I think would be a health hazard. Have the residents gone in mass to a city hall council meeting? Whether that would jog them to action, at least your comments would be on record.

Good points, all. Thank you. I will speak to some of my fellow homeowners and see if we can map out a formal strategy to address this.

Squatters or trespassers...Informative article

Legal How-To: Getting Squatters Evicted
By Jenny Tsay, Esq. on April 29, 2014 6:45 AM
It's always unsettling to come home and find that squatters are living on your property, but how can you get rid of them?

In some cases, you may get in trouble by forcibly removing squatters from your property, so there are some legal considerations you need to keep in mind. Here's a general overview:

Are they squatters or trespassers? Before you do anything, find out if the people on your property are squatters or trespassers. Trespassers are people who enter onto an owner's land without permission and are subject to criminal and civil penalties. Generally, trespassers are only on a property temporarily. For example, people who come onto a property to vandalize it are most likely considered trespassers. On the other hand, squatters are people who "move" into a property and live there, usually without the owner's consent. This practice is more common if the property is a vacation home and/or the owner rarely comes to check on the place. For the most part, squatters can't be removed without some sort of civil eviction action.
Eviction proceedings. Since squatters aren't paying rent to live on your property, you can evict them. The first option is serve the squatters with an eviction notice. If the squatters refuse to leave, you can file an unlawful detainer lawsuit against them to formally kick them out via a court order. However, just because you won an unlawful detainer suit doesn't mean you can march in and toss them out. If squatters still don't leave after a court order, you need to go to your local police or sheriff's department for help enforcing the judgment. Taking matters into your own hands by forcibly removing squatters could land you in legal trouble.
Adverse possession laws. Under adverse possession laws, squatters may legally own your property if they've openly and continuously lived there for an extended period of time. The actual time period varies by state, but at least a few years must pass in most cases. The squatters have to meet all the elements of adverse possession in order to claim the property as theirs. Your best bet in preventing this result is to go and visit all your property locations at least once a year to check for squatters.
Need More Help?

Trying to evict squatters can be frustrating, but you don't have to face the problem alone. If you don't have the time or the patience to deal with the situation, you may want to call an experienced real estate attorney who's knowledgeable about eviction proceedings in your state.

The residents of the tent city are squatting on land next to the Warrenton Mill. I am not exactly sure who owns this land. Some have said it's the State of Connecticut, and others have said that it is owned by a private individual. These people are trespassing as they use the Warrenton Mill property as their gateway to their tent city. They are also trespassing when they vandalize residents' cars and when they go through our trash dumpsters. So they are squatting within an arm's reach of the condo complex and trespassing on Mill property.

The point of my post was if they are trespassers, they would be subject to trespassing laws and fines. Just another angle this tent city could be pursued on.

Now here's a hypothetical...If the house across the street is vacant but I see activity there and I report it to the police, upon investigation it is determined someone is in there would that person just be told to leave or would they be arrested or fined? I am reporting a criminal activity, whether the owner of the house knew or not it is still a crime . Any thoughts?

Since smaller camps are sprouting up around town, I'm sure other citizens would like to participate in resolving your problem and the broader problem in town. Strength in numbers!! A citizens action group would be the best way to tackle issues that the city seems to condone. We are the tax base and our rights should trump this tent city mess.

The so called homeless tent city behind the former kmart and the mills has existed there for quite a lot longer than most understand. The homeless have used this area as refuge for decades now due to the fact that it is private property of unknown ownership unlike some have confused for state land or kmart's land. City officials have little to no power to stop it because on private land they have little control. The police can't even legally remove them without direct consent from the land owner by way of a trespassing charge. Because they are living on the land openly and notoriously, without the owner's dispute, the residents of this land could legally gain ownership of the land by being a perminent year round resident for the necessary length of time. Beyond the disturbing the peace, public intoxication, and burn ban violations which I would not condone; these poor individuals are doing nothing wrong. They are surviving by any means necessary. If we were good neighbors, we would band together to open more shelters because, especially in winter, there are just too few beds. That compiled by our economy getting worse means even more homeless, thus more campers in the woods. Camping isn't a crime. Letting our neighbors freeze to death in winter while we complain about the smell of their camp fires isn't either, but which one is evil? Thank you...

As a longtime resident of The Warrenton Mill, I fundamentally agree with what Homeless Advocate wrote earlier today. However, the problem involves more than camp fires. I won't take the time to list the other dangerous issues involved, but if you read back through the SeeClickFix comments and do some other research you will better understand there are many problems associated with Tent City. No one should be homeless; this is an absolutely heartbreaking situation. But homeowners also have the right to feel safe on their property and they need to protect their investment. I do feel the Mayor is addressing the issue. She spoke to homeowners at the Warrenton Mill Condo Association meeting earlier this week with candor and compassion for all involved--the homeless and our homeowners. She shared a plan that I believe is both sustainable and fair to all involved. However, I have to remind myself that she inherited this issue, and it has escalated in the almost 13 years my family has owned property at the Warrenton Mill. Understandably, it will not be resolved overnight.

Now, if I can go back to Homeless Advocate's last sentence in his or her post with the camp fires comment, let me shed perspective from my vantage point: I am currently walking with a pneumatic boot on my foot and with a cane in my hand. I was awakened from a deep sleep last week in the wee hours of the morning to the smell of smoke and haze in my condo unit. Disoriented, I honestly thought the place was on fire and raced down my stairs to find the source; however, on my way down I missed the last step. As it turns out, the smoke was coming from outside (read: Tent City). I am now laid up for a good four to six weeks while my ankle heals. I am self supporting, so while I do have a roof over my head for which I'm thankful, this incident has impacted my livelihood and it is just one illustration of the danger associated with having a Tent City so close to the condo complex. We are not heartless when it comes to homelessness at the Mill, but we do want to see some changes that benefit all involved, including our neighbors who live up in the woods. We want to see them all in homes of their own, with a roof over their head. I believe at the end of the day we are all working toward the same goal here, so let's keep the momentum going as a community. I would venture to say that deep in our hearts, most of us are advocates for the homeless.

They are on private property. There are 3 entities who own the properly they are currently located on. From what I've gathered Pan Am Railways, The Water Company, and a private resident are the owners. All 3 entities have been issued letters indicating they would be held responsible for violations of housing and health codes. Again, this is only what I have heard from the Mayor.

Take whatever the city officials with a grain of salt . They talk a good game concerning letters of violations ,but they come up short on results. I've been fighting about a derelict house near me,now for 6 years and I still hear they are working at it. Absurd. Another house with people living in, mired in garbage, the house vomited garbage, I harped on city hall,finally sent health inspect and Fire Marshall,only to not gain entry because parents were not home. They never followed up. Lucky they went into foreclosure and left. This city hall refuses to enforce any zoning violations, My chances winning lotto is better than getting results from the city. I feel bad for you residents, I hear the police are there constantly.

Ask for copies of those letters sent. Confirmation that something was really sent, Something to refer to when asking for progress addressing this. Should have contact info in them so you can dig deeper into this further

The Warrenton Mill is the epicenter of the homeless problem.They scatter through town during the day and it is apparent to most that we have a problem, Officials and the Register American want to keep this quite,and also do nothing. It's only a matter of time new camps will pop up,and this will affect a broader swath of the community. Maybe a open gathering to anyone concerned In town, Strength in numbers!

The problem with the Tent City behind the Warrenton Mill seems to be escalating, not winding down. This in spite of it being wintertime. This afternoon at 4:15, as I was unloading groceries from my car trunk, I noticed an SUV in the parking lot near the back dumpster area of the Mill. It's near the trail that leads up to the Tent City. The vehicle was a washed-out robin's egg blue color. It is here often, dropping off "residents" who live in Tent City. Sure enough, this afternoon I saw a woman get out of that car and she was carrying many large duffle bags as she made her way up to the tents. The woman driving the vehicle is not caucasian. She is petite with dark hair, and she really puts the pedal to the metal and flies out of the Warrenton Mill driveway/parking lot after dropping off her passengers so I have been unable to get her license plate number. The SUV is not brand new, but it's not an old vehicle, either. It looks to be in good shape. I have to wonder if this is one of the social workers in town who regularly drops off Tent City residents. As I said earlier in this post, I have seen this car in the Warrenton Mill parking lot MANY times and have been unable to get the plate number. This has been said so many times and has fallen on deaf ears, but the Warrenton Mill is private property. It's illegal for people to trespass on the property to drop off the homeless. If you are a resident of the Warrenton Mill like me, and if you see the blue SUV here dropping off Tent City residents, please try to get the license plate and give it to the police and to property management. Someone driving that car is here regularly dropping off the homeless. It's really shameful. As one of my fellow homeowners said at the last board meeting, the Warrenton Mill condominium cannot be moved, but Tent City can. It's time residents of the Mill take collective action to get the job done.

At the Warrenton Mill, there are monthly meetings of owners and the board of directors. It's an opportunity to voice one's opinions about a host of issues, but so very few people bother to go. When I have asked people who have lived here for many years, they say it does no good to go, so why bother. Nevertheless, there is strength in numbers and situations like Tent City can be turned around when you have the numbers. By the way, has any board president or the property manager ever written a letter to the mayor telling her to put a stop to Tent City or we'll sue on account of how our property values have tanked on account of the acrid smoke and drugged out zombies wandering around the area? I've sent emails to the mayor and a 3-page registered letter filled with examples of law breaking -- but no response whatsoever from her. She came to our annual meeting though, but seemed so lackadaisical that I felt no confidence she will do anything effective. It's interesting how the tent people can walk all over us and get away with it. No one group should infringe on the rights of another group. But the tent people? Hey, no problem. They have about a hundred acres behind them, but they won't move. They like dumpster diving and have never been living closer to the property line. Never mind the decline in our property values, safety and quality of life. You really can't barbeque or sit outside and relax, wondering who might come upon you. The Warrenton Mill condo owners provide about $300,00 in tax revenues to the City of Torrington. What do the tent people provide? Living here is not pleasant, though it could be. We just can't seem to get the numbers of fed up residents to turn the tide. Shame on our public officials for letting this take root and shame on us for putting up with this loss of hard-earned money (in the form of falling home equity), lack of safety and constantly diminishing quality of life in Torrington.

6:30 p.m. is the homeowner's meeting on Feb. 9; typo in my post. Sorry.

I think we are going to see the tide turn. Homeowners ARE getting fed up, and we are starting to demand accountability from the association's board members, the property management company and city officials. If you are a homeowner at the Mill, please be sure to attend the Feb. 9 meeting at 6:30 a.m. at the KofC Hall. You have to "register" if you want to speak, so be sure to register with the property management company and come and speak what's on your mind. You are right: Working together, we CAN turn this place around. I know property management contacted the Torrington Health Dept. last week and demanded to know what's going on with Tent City. They also requested copies of the three letters the mayor promised to send the three landowners who are "hosting" Tent City. So the property management company and the board are beginning to take this issue seriously. Please attend the Feb. 9 homeowners meeting.

Litigation can change things quickly. Maybe that's what will finally turn Torrington around. As a city nicely situated in the Litchfield Hills, it has great potential, but can't seem to live up to it. Nor can it look after its middle class/lower middle class taxpayers who don't care to be trespassed upon and see their property devalued any further.

"Private Property" signs have been posted on the trees, all of the property has been mostly cleaned up to my knowledge, and a heavy Torrington Police Department presence has been seen daily in the area of concern. The issue in this specific area has been addressed, in my opinion.