Public works crews dismantled a high-profile homeless encampment Thursday in East Oakland after its residents declined to obey the city’s orders to leave the lot.

The encampment, known as Housing and Dignity Village in its 1½-month existence, was seen by many as an outgrowth of frustration with the response by local officials to the regional homelessness crisis. Supporters and community groups said it was a justified reaction to inadequate government intervention to the growing tide of people in Oakland without homes.

The village’s organizers say the site was not a typical homeless encampment. The model — first attempted in January 2017 at Grove Shafter Park in North Oakland before the city closed it — was designed to be an organized, drug-free, alcohol-free place safe for women and children.

The one in East Oakland, at Clara Street and Edes Avenue, was stocked with food, donations and medical supplies. About 15 people lived there, but other homeless people would come during the day to pick up food and other items.

Oakland officials said it was a nuisance for nearby residents and deemed it an illegal trespass on city land. The two sides fought the issue last month in court, and a federal judge cleared the way for Oakland to move forward with an eviction.

The city was prepared to clear out the lot Wednesday but, amid rain and a crowd of protesters, decided not to. The village’s residents said they were told that a meeting with city officials would be possible to negotiate the matter prior to any eviction.

On Thursday afternoon, public works employees wore gloves, hard hats, surgical masks and neon vests as they disassembled and cleaned the fenced-off lot using oversize rakes and shovels. Canopies, tiny homes and other structures were broken down and loaded into a truck. The city’s policies mandate that items be stored 90 days for residents to retrieve them.

It wasn’t immediately clear where the 15 residents would go next, but city officials said they all have been offered shelter.

Denise Draper, who sleeps in her car, said the village helped her with whatever she needed. Outside the fence, she and others screamed at police officers and uncomfortable-looking public works employees, some of whom have said privately they dislike this part of their job.

“They were helping us so we could help ourselves and not die in the streets. Whatever I needed — a pair of socks, water,” Draper said, then turned back to face the city workers. “Anyone can become homeless at any time. You’re standing on your feet now. God will knock you down.”

Officers briefly handcuffed one of the village’s residents before releasing her. The resident, Aiyahnna Johnson, said she was detained after she tried to stop crews from hauling her things away in a truck.

Oakland police Capt. Tony Jones said no one would be arrested or cited and referred questions to the city administrator’s office.

“Nobody’s going to jail here today,” he said. “We’re here to do a civil standby to make sure Public Works can safely clear the lot.”

The lot had been vacant for about a decade. City officials are now hoping to turn it into a site for an affordable housing project.

Kimberly Veklerov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kveklerov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kveklerov