There are 843 registered sex offenders living in Cumberland County. For dozens in Fayetteville, their home is a tent alongside the road.
Deputies in the Sheriff's Office Sex Offender Registration Enforcement Unit (SOREU) learned the group of offenders are homeless and stay in a tent community along where the busy Martin Luther King Jr. Freeway (Highway 87) goes over Gillespie Street. Some live under the overpass while others live in a nearby field beside Gillespie Street.
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A man who didn't want be identified told WRAL News he is a registered sex offender who lives in a tent. He has a job and was living with his sister, but the law requires sex offenders to live at least 1,000 feet from a school, which she didn't, he explained.
"It's also hard to find houses and hard to find rent," he said.
The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office released a Public Service Announcement alerting the community that some registered sex offenders live in tent cities.
Authorities became concerned when they saw a picture of a child hugging a sex offender published in the paper. A parent brought children to the tents to give the homeless supplies.
"I'm not saying that those individuals are going to re-offend ... we want to make sure that the public is safe and they are aware," said Lt. Patrice Bogertey, a spokesperson for the sheriff's office.
Timothy Dudley works with several companies that provide housing for the homeless. He's aware that there are sex offenders living in tents.
"I have kids as well," Dudley said. "I want my kids to understand that these people made a bad choice life ... but that doesn't mean that they don't need a place to stay ... they need a second chance."
The registered sex offender WRAL News spoke with said he wants the public to know "we're still human beings." He explained, "We're trying to make our own lives ... we already have paid for our crimes."
Although deputies don't want to deter people from helping the less fortunate, they do want families to be aware of their surroundings if they're in the area. Law enforcement agencies have not responded to any recent problems at the sites. Several who live there are veterans.
"Parents should speak with their children," said Bogertey. "If they are going out there, just keep a good eye on them."
The department said there are currently 23 homeless sex offenders registered in Cumberland County who live in locations not defined as "permanent dwellings." The offenders are considered compliant with the Sex Offender Registry.
The department says that although it wants the homeless to have resources for assistance, it also aims to ensure the public feels safe and prevent offenders from re-offending. SOREU tracks 843 offenders throughout Cumberland County.
The active sex offender registry can be viewed at the North Carolina Sex Offender and Public Protection Registry.