When Gov. Greg Abbott created a temporary campsite for the homeless in November, a scant few arrived at the patch of gravel and concrete near U.S. 183 and Montopolis. Four months later, nearly 150 people are now living at the site that they are calling Camp R.A.T.T. — Responsible Adult Transition Town.

Douglas Curtis builds a shelter with donated pallets at a state-owned temporary campsite for homeless at a TxDOT facility in southeast Austin on February 20. He said he became homeless 12 years ago for a number of reasons, and he displays the United States flag, “Because I’m an American.” [JAY JANNER/AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

Deborah Swenson sits in her tent at the state-owned temporary campsite on February 20. Swenson said she became homeless in Shelburn, Indiana, and moved into the camp in December. She said she lost part of her finger after a bite from a brown recluse spider at the camp. [JAY JANNER/AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

A sign marks the entrance to the homeless camp on February 28. [JAY JANNER/AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

Robert Rhodes walks outside the storage shed where he lives at the camp on February 28. Rhodes, who has been homeless for 10 years, said he was the first person to move into the camp when it opened in November. [JAY JANNER/AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

Marlon, who did want to give his last name, sits by his tent in the camp on February 28. The camp is separated from Palm Harbor Homes by a razor-wire fence. Marlon said he became homeless seven years ago after struggling with addiction and getting a divorce. He said he’s sober now. “I’m trying to get my life back together and get off the streets,” he said. [JAY JANNER/AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

Danny Silver and his wife Margaret Post sit in their truck at the camp on February 28. They have been married 21 years, and became homeless two years ago after getting evicted from their trailer home. Now they live in their truck in the homeless camp. “I just want to get home. I want a home so bad,” Post said. [JAY JANNER/AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

Kenneth Kemper washes in an outdoor shower with cold water from a hose at the camp on February 28. Kemper, who works part-time at an Amazon fulfillment center, moved into the camp in January. “When I get an apartment and I feel hot water I’m just going to stay in it for five hours,” he said. [JAY JANNER/AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

Laundry dries on a line at the camp on February 28. [JAY JANNER/AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

Joe Manz shaves at the camp on February 27. He said he became homeless 8 years ago after losing his job, but he’s trying to get his life back together. “I’m turning over a new leaf for the benefit of the new Joe,” he said. [JAY JANNER/AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

Tents are separated from Palm Harbor Homes by a razor wire fence on Friday February 28. [JAY JANNER/AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

Simon Escobedo Jr. walks through the camp on February 20. Escobedo said he became homeless 10 years ago after losing his job. [JAY JANNER/AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

Dalzell Waldrop sits in her tent at the camp on February 28. Waldrop said she suffered years of abuse, and she moved into the camp in January after being released from a mental hospital. [JAY JANNER/AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

Roberto Salas Rodriguez, who has been homeless for seven years, builds at sturdy shelter out of salvaged lumber, tires and sandbags he filled with dirt at the camp on February 28. [JAY JANNER/AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

Donald Montgomery charges his cell phone at the camp on February 28. Montgomery said he moved into the camp in December after he could no longer afford to pay his rent. [JAY JANNER/AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

A homeless man, who did not want to be identified, sweeps outside his tent at the camp on February 28. He said he became homeless in April after being released from prison. [JAY JANNER/AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

Edward Ybarra and his girlfriend Missy James cook potatoes on an open flame at the camp on February 20. Ybarra said he’s been homeless since being released from a halfway house in August. “It’s better than being in jail,” he said of living in the homeless camp. James said she has been homeless for 10 years. [JAY JANNER/AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

A painting adorns a storage shed that serves as a shelter for a homeless person at the camp on Friday February 28. [JAY JANNER/AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

Marlon, who did not want to give his last name, retrieves a blanket that got caught in the razor wire fence that separates the camp from Palm Harbor Homes on February 28. [JAY JANNER/AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

Alex Taylor sits in the storage shed where he lives at the camp on February 27. Taylor said he became homeless three years ago after a serious car accident. He said he owes $200,000 in medical bills he can’t afford to pay. [JAY JANNER/AMERICAN-STATESMAN]