NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Police arrested 16 people Tuesday night in connection with a protest for housing for Nashville’s homeless.

Video: Group Urges Mayor To Provide Funding For Homeless Housing

A group called The Homeless Power Project arranged the protest that took place outside Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell’s office at Public Square Park.

A representative said the reason for the protest was to urge Purcell to commit to building more housing for the homeless.

The group was granted a permit to protest in the park, but when the park closed at 11 p.m., some of the protesters did not leave as requested by park officers.

Officers said they gave three warnings to leave, and placed those that refused under arrest.

The group is pushing Purcell to build 200 homes now, and a total of 1,800 homes over the next nine years.

“He has been very encouraging. He has been looking at ways to put money in the budget for these 200 units. He’s not sure, and we’re going to stick with him until he becomes sure,” said group representative Matt Lieber.

Purcell met with the group last week and told them that he understood their concern and that he would consider their request.

“It’s a tight budget year. We’re looking at a lot of different requests from a lot of different departments; from police to fire to social services. The mayor is taking all of those into consideration as he puts together his budget which he will present on Friday to the Metro Council,” said Purcell’s spokeswoman Molly Sudderth.

Sudderth said that over the last year, the city has appropriated $1.2 million for housing projects for the homeless.

She said that the federal government has also given the city $3.4 million to distribute to various agencies that aid the homeless.

A group representative said they would continue their awareness campaign and that they would be serving lunches for the homeless until Friday.

The District Attorney said charges were dropped Wednesday afternoon against all of those who were arrested.