BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — Boise Police officers and members of the alternative sentencing program known as SLD or Sheriff's Labor Detail cleaned out a growing homeless encampment behind the Interfaith Sanctuary Wednesday.

SLD workers removed tents, and personal belongings, along with trash and debris that had accumulated.

A spokesperson for Boise Police tells CBS2 that officers talked with the people staying there and pointed them toward additional resources. BPD says anyone on site was given 48-hours notice of the cleanup.

Jodi Peterson-Stigers, Executive Director of the Interfaith Sanctuary, says that the problem is a difficult one. "What's led to it is there's an increased amount of people who are setting up tents in the alley and it's really dangerous and it makes it really hard for emergency vehicles to access the area," says Stigers. " But when you remove the tents and there is no space to go, that's really dangerous too because now they're just in the elements."

Stigers points out the proposed Interfaith Sanctuary on State St. in the old Salvation Army warehouse will help address some of the problems facing the homeless.

Opponents of the State St. site say there are beds available at the Boise Rescue Mission, and resources available, but that would require individuals to be clean from drug use, which leads some still struggling with addiction to make the decision to risk the elements.

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