SAN ANTONIO — A resident of northeast Bexar County has called on county officials to intensify cleanup and assistance efforts at a homeless encampment off Elm Trail Drive and Walzem Road. Alyson Alvarado said the encampment has expanded over several years and is accompanied by piles of trash throughout the area.

Alvarado said an area near a pond that families once visited is now scattered with litter. She said she sympathizes with people experiencing homelessness but worries about the impact of the encampment on nearby residents, wildlife, and the environment. She also said that unincorporated Bexar County receives insufficient attention and that her goal is to secure assistance for people living in the encampments.

"I know there's numerous encampments as well. I would have to say between the 50s and 60s of people. And it's something that needs to be changed," she said.

Alvarado questioned the pace of the county's response, pointing to trash she said remains visible near the road after years of reported problems.

"It's been five years and for me when I still see the same trash that is sitting out still a few feet from the road, is that really progress?" she said.

A Bexar County spokesperson said the sheriff's office and county environmental services have addressed the issue for the past couple of years. According to officials, property owners have authorized law enforcement to issue criminal trespass warnings and citations at the site, though some individuals have returned to the area.

County officials said the abatement process is ongoing and that volunteer groups organized through the county have worked to clean up the encampment sites. Officials encourage residents who spot homeless encampments to report them to the Bexar County Sheriff's Office, which can be reached at 210-335-6000.