CINCINNATI — City officials early Wednesday cleared out a downtown Cincinnati homeless camp, and workers began cleaning it up in the latest development in a long-running debate on such encampments.

City workers began well before the posted 8 a.m. deadline to vacate the area, and none of the 40 or so people on hand lingered.

Most people living at the encampment left for shelters and detox programs. A few were approved for permanent housing, while others joined a tent city along downtown sidewalks a few blocks away.

The cleanup efforts followed days of confusion over what to do about the encampment under an overpass near the stadium where the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals play.

Acting City Manager Patrick Duhaney issued a notice to vacate last week, but later extended the deadline to Wednesday morning.

That prompted advocates for the homeless, City Council members, and the city manager’s office to start a dialogue about long-term solutions.

associated press