The Fort Wayne Police Department has ordered local homeless residents to remove their camps.

“It’s a a ‘no win.’ There’s nobody that’s going to win in this,” Deputy Chief Steve Haffner told WANE 15 News. “The police department doesn’t take any pride in doing this and the advocates are going to have to come out and help them clean this up. There’s nobody winning.”

The department posted illegal camp site notices Friday at 7 locations around the city.

The notices order the sites to be vacated by 8 a.m. Monday. The notices say that any property left at the sites will be available for 72 hours at 1700 Monroe St.

Along with the notices, information about the Rescue Mission was included.

“There are better options,” Haffner said. “There are places with hot meals there are places that provide clothing, provide psychological services in a warm controlled environment. Unfortunately, when you talk to some of the folks out here, they don’t want that.”

Aside from wanting to control their own destiny, police say another reason the homeless return to these sites time and time again is because advocates visit, leaving supplies like clothing and tents.

“If she had nowhere to go, am I to turn my back on her? And say, fend for yourself?” That question came from advocate Sally Segerson.

The deputy chief tells said he recognizes the advocates’ hearts, wanting to help, but he’s working to prevent a tragic end, himself.

“We’ve seen that here in the last two weeks,” Haffner added. “We lost two individuals of the homeless community, living in the elements, and that didn’t work out for them.”

“Look in your own eyes,” Segerson said. “How would you want your sister, your brother, your mother, your father, to be treated, because that is the compassion that we must find for each one of these individuals.”