Some homeless people were again looking for a place to live after Fredericton police ordered them away from the riverbank under the city's walking bridge where they'd set up tents.

Insp. Kimberly Quartermain said the police received several calls since July 7 about people living under the popular Bill Thorpe Walking Bridge.

"We had numerous calls from the Fredericton community, wondering who was there, was it safe, those sorts of things," she said.

She added that officers often check on these areas for people who don't have permanent residences.

She said she couldn't estimate the number of people living under the bridge when police asked them to move. They are transients and "the number fluctuates," said Heidi Cyr, spokesperson for the Fredericton Police Force.

This isn't the first time this year that a small tent city has been moved in Fredericton.

Fredericton police say no force was used in getting people to move from the area. (Nathalie Sturgeon/CBC)

Tents were set up behind Government House in March, but after that area was cleared, the tents were put up under the walking bridge.

The police recently asked the individuals to leave the new location.

The Fredericton Police Force said no force was used in getting the people to move.

On Monday afternoon, the riverbank was still littered with shoes, irons and clothing.

Quartermain said people without permanent homes should use the resources available to them, such as the John Howard Society of Fredericton, the Downtown Community Health Centre or homeless shelters.

A excavator was brought in to clear what was left under the Fredericton walking bridge. (Nathalie Sturgeon/CBC )

"We have also encouraged and worked with them to find other housing," said Quartermain.

She said this is a shared space but not a place to make a home.

"There are no facilities for proper waste disposal, garbage disposal or human waste, it can quickly turn into a situation where it's not healthy for both the individuals living there and but for the community at large," Quartermain said.

Over capacity

Quartermain said these impromptu tent cities pop up every year, especially in the warmer months.

But finding sustainable housing isn't always easy.

Warren Maddox, the executive director of the Fredericton Homeless Shelter, said it is running at more than 100 per cent capacity.

He said in an email on Monday that he doesn't understand why the tents were set up in such a high-profile place as the walking bridge.

When people cluster in those types of areas, Maddox said, that usually doesn't end well for tent cities.

Maddox said he cannot help those who were living under the bridge and cannot house anyone else at this time because his shelter is running above capacity.