A group of homeless people living in tents were forced to leave the sidewalk near River Street Mall in Chinatown after workers removed a chain-link fence along Beretania Street. 

A team from the Institute for Human Services assisted the homeless this morning. The organization informed the homeless six weeks ago of the upcoming work and the need to move. About a dozen people decided to move into the IHS shelter. 

IHS Executive Director Connie Mitchell said about 50 to 60 people lived along the sidewalk located directly across the Aala skatepark. Police, however, estimate about 30 to 40 people lived there. 

A nearby business owner had contacted the city asking for help to address the homeless situation, said spokeswoman Louise Kim McCoy.

Cynthia Thomas, 45, removed three carts filled with her belongings from the area. She said her daughter wants her to move in with her, but Thomas said she doesn’t want to give up her pit-bull mix dog, Bella.