Homeless Man Ordered To Move Dwelling Out Of Woods

ELGIN, IL — A homeless man has been ordered to move out of a dwelling he built in a wooded area in Elgin early last year, the Daily Herald reports. Doug Henke did not know at the time that he was trespassing on Fox River Water Reclamation District property when he set up his home and instead thought he was on city property.

He had been living in "Tent City," an outdoor homeless encampment in Elgin, when he decided he wanted more peace and quiet on his own, picking the wooded area. Camping is prohibited on the property, and Henke, who chooses to be homeless, was asked to leave by a Fox River Water Reclamation District employee and an Elgin police officer.

"They wanted me out of here immediately," Henke told the newspaper. "The guy had this mindset that all this just comes down and it's a tent, you just fold it up and go. Dude, it took me two months to build this and another seven months to make it what it is now."

Officials have ordered Henke to move off the property by this weekend, according to the article.

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