The homeless man who has taken up residence in Washington Square Park’s fountain was free to continue squatting there Friday — despite visits from numerous NYPD officers, Parks Department employees and homeless-outreach coordinators who did little about his presence.
A team of two cops and two parks workers spent about 10 minutes at the Greenwich Village landmark — but left without ever engaging with Matthew Mishefski, who calls himself the “Son of God Lord Saviour Jesus Christ.” Three more Parks employees arrived in the afternoon and also kept their distance.
A pair of workers from the city’s Homeless Outreach & Mobile Engagement Street Action Teams spoke with Mishefski for about 20 minutes but seemed unable to convince him to get off the streets.
“Bulls-–t,” Mishefski said when asked what support they offered him. “Another problem, and I want a solution.” But he didn’t elaborate, only saying, “Come here with all your people and all the tools of your trade . . . and open heart and we will find working solutions to the problems everybody faces.”
The 25-year-old man from the Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania, who says he’s autistic and has spent time in psych wards, vowed to return to the park even if his possessions are removed.
The Parks Department said it would clean up the items — which include a table and chairs, umbrella, recliner and box of clothes — as per park rules. But they hadn’t done so as of Friday.
“They could take everything. I will come right back,” Mishefski said. “They’ve already done it, and I’m still here.”
Meanwhile, Mishefski lazed about the morning, spending time reading and painting himself with red paint he got from nearby protesters. At one point, another homeless man named Michael Saunders appeared and tried to haul away Mishefski’s belongings.
“That’s city property. I can’t go in there and build a house. How can he come and establish himself in a public park?” said Saunders, 52. “There’s rules and regulations in every park. What, you mean you can’t move this dude? It just don’t make sense.”
A city Department of Homeless Services spokesman reiterated that being homeless is not a crime and said it would be unlawful to forcibly remove a person like Mishefski because he’s not presenting a danger to himself or others or breaking the law.
Mishefski said he has been camped out at the fountain for more than a month.