report homeless encampment oakland
Photograph: Talia Herman/The Guardian Housing | Ruined vegetation, broken irrigation lines and damaged fencing at Lake Merritt, as well as. "What I have tried to do is create a possibility of relocation in a way that is the least harmful to the people who live on Wood Street," he said at the hearing. Our housed and unhoused residents are counting on us to make this right, Ruby wrote. After nearly two-month delay, judge allows, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Bay Area weather: After thunderstorms and hail, snow could be on the way this weekend, After nearly two-month delay, judge allows Oakland to remove large homeless camp, Housing proposal for unhoused leaves Santa Clara residents sharply divided, Forcing Californians into mental health treatment would get easier with proposed legislation, Grappling with homelessness, California weighs extending foster care for 5 years. Partner with us by contributing resources or time to respond to the homelessness crisis. The action will set in motion the eviction of several dozen people living on a vacant, city-owned lot off Wood Street in West Oakland . Grappling with homelessness, California weighs extending foster care for 5 years Oaklanders say homelessness is the most urgent issue facing the city Caltrans removed five people living on its property between 16th and 20th streets after the deadly fire in April and is now installing concrete barriers and fencing to prevent people from returning to the area. The land was mostly owned by Caltrans, and after a history of fires on the site and concerns about the proximity of a nearby oxygen production plant, on July 15, 2022 the agency gave residents 5-days' notice to clear the site. Its uncertain if Caltrans has the authority to clear land it doesnt own. He and the others had lived in four old buses one of which was destroyed during the move and a van. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group), OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 26: An officer with the California Highway Patrol marks a vehicle during a partial clearing of the Wood Street homeless encampment on Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, in Oakland, Calif. Caltrans is overseeing the cleanup of its property along Wood Street. A separate request earlier this month to halt Oakland workers from clearing parts of the encampment on land it owns was denied. City of Oakland Opens 100-bed Cabin Shelter Program at Wood Street, Estelle Clemons, Interim Director of Human Services and, Daniel Cooper, Homelessness Administrator, Court order would allow phased clean-up and closure operation to resume to abate potentially hazardous conditions that threaten public health and safety, Completed Encampment Management Operations, FACT SHEET: Wood Street Update - October 2022, FACT SHEET: Wood Street Encampment - July 2022, HOJA INFORMATIVA: Intervenciones para la gestin del campamento de Wood Street, FACT SHEET: East 12th Street Median Encampment - October 2022, Completed Encampment Management Team Operations Since 2021, Joint Statement regarding Homeless Services Performance Audit, Federal Judge Indicates Approval of City of Oaklands Thoughtful Outreach and Services Plan in Support of Caltrans Encampment Closure Operation on Wood Street. Wood Street encampment resident Theo Cedar Jones plays guitar. The city wants to build the state-funded community cabin site in partnership with residents and a provider who would offer wraparound services at the site. Instead of clearing homeless camps, Oakland is spiffing them up - SFGATE Specifically, the audit found the City lacked an effective strategy for dealing with the growth in encampments and did not provide sufficient policy direction or adequate funding at the onset of this crisis, the letter continued. The plaintiffs asked that the eviction be enjoined because of a lack of shelter beds, heavy winter rains, and the continued prevalence of Covid and other viruses. City lawyers had no comment on the ruling. Under these circumstances, the judge found that the standards for the TRO were no longer met. Review and respond annually to the Citys Homeless Encampment Policy and the Permanent Access to Housing Path Plan which shall be presented to the Commission, as well as hear reports on the housing, programs, and services for persons experiencing homelessness in the City including, but not limited to. Californias stormy weather is having an unusual effect on S.F. There are another 40 spaces available in pre-existing tiny home, safe parking and other sites throughout the city and there likely will be dozens of beds free at St. Vincent de Paul, a dorm-style shelter in West Oakland, according to the city. That would allow the city and county to figure out their outreach programs so that there could be actual adequate outreach, she said, instead of a rushed approach that will lead to immense danger and harm to the residents.. Alameda Hot Spot Makes Best Sandwich List, Health Emergency Ends, COVID Vigilance Does Not, American Tulip Day & Free, U-Pick-Tulips 2023: Union Square, San Francisco, St. Patrick's Day Pub Crawl: LepraCon San Francisco, Before & After Photos Show CA's Snowpack, Reservoirs After Storms, Best Bay Area Sandwiches + Stranded Hiker Rescued: Saturday Smiles, Sprawling Estates, Suburban Dreams: 11 Featured Bay Area Homes, The Poop On Free-Range Cats And Your Lawn And Garden [Block Talk], Monarch Butterflies: Our Fluttery Friends Are Wintering In The Area, Visit CA's National Parks For Free On 5 Fee-Free Days In 2023, Alameda County Gardening: November Checklist, Growing Spinach In Containers: Alameda County Gardening, What To Do In Alameda County Gardens In October. Oakland police towed several vehicles parked by a homeless camp near the Fruitvale Home Depot on Thursday, as part of a cleanup and closure operation. A large fire that swept through a homeless encampment underneath the 880 Freeway in West Oakland on Monday destroyed several vehicles and RVs before it was put . OAKLAND - Fire swept through a homeless encampment near the MacArthur Maze highway interchange in West Oakland on Monday morning. Housing | Caltrans couldnt immediately be reached for further comment. Antioch council to discuss new liquor stores ban, homeless housing. OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 5: Maria Fuentes, who is a coordinator at the Community of Grace homeless encampment, shows their community garden across from the Home Depot on the 4000 block of . A spokesperson for the Oakland Police Department said the department is investigating a use-of-force incident on Thursday just after 2:45 p.m. in the area of West Grand Avenue and Wood Street. Settlement reached between . Copyright 2023 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. If you or someone you know is hungry, homeless, or housing insecure - Call 2-1-1. The order is the latest in a long-running dispute over a homeless camp that once covered 40 acres under the Nimitz Freeway in Oakland, where between 200 and 300 people lived in vehicles, RVs, tents and other makeshift structures. In October of 2020, the Oakland City Council adopted an Encampment Management Policy to focus encampment actions on mitigating negative outcomes as they pertain to public safety, public health, and equity outcomes. Caltrans to boost California homeless encampment cleanups | The OAKLAND -- The biggest homeless encampment in Oakland will soon be shut down. Walters: Is ending Californias homelessness just a matter of money? Fire sweeps through homeless encampment near MacArthur Maze in Oakland To learn more about how we use your information, please read our privacy policy. High Cost Of Los Angeles Homeless Camp Raises Eyebrows And Questions The order is the latest in a long-running dispute over a homeless camp that once covered 40 acres under the Nimitz Freeway in Oakland, where between 200 and 300 people lived in vehicles, RVs, tents and other makeshift structures. Members of the cleanup crew rolled tires and lifted couches overhead as larger equipment moved car after car, some just burned-out shells, off the state-owned lot. Now, they live on city property along Wood Streets right-of-way. Over the past seven years, Oaklands Wood Street encampment has exploded in size. According to a report by the city administrative officer, the new East Hollywood campground costs approximately $2,663 per participant per month. To report an issue related to an encampment, please email Homelessness@oaklandca.gov. Among its recommendations, the audit found the city should ensure staff members are trained in crisis management and interacting with traumatized encampment residents. The report lays out 26 recommendations, all of which the city has committed to following, according to the auditors office. Resident Ron McGowan, who lives at the site in question, said there are about 80 people there. Additionally, the Commission shall be requested to publish reports regarding the following: Canceled - Commission on Homelessness Meeting, Commission on Homelessness - Bylaws and Rules of Procedure. Thats on top of nearly 90 fires at the site for the 12 months through March. In July, a large fire damaged a portion of Interstate 880. The Oakland City Council unanimously passed a new homeless encampment policy Tuesday, more than 10 hours into a meeting where dozens of members of the public spoke passionately about the proposal and protesters rallied outside two councilmembers' homes. "These are vehicles of human beings," he said at the hearing, "and they are not to be lost.". Theo Cedar Jones, a resident at Wood Street for nearly two years who lives in a makeshift shelter, said he doesnt like the citys community cabin model and wouldnt use it. Aric Crabb has been a staff photographer at the Bay Area News Group since 1998. The Oakland city auditor in April released a report that highlighted a litany of problems that plague the city's estimated 140 homeless communities, including: 1,599 interventions for "hygiene . Driven by a housing crisis and continuing economic inequality that hits Oaklands most vulnerable. Earlier this week, a coalition of residents wrote a public letter to state, city and county officials urging them to work with them. Dozens of Caltrans workers and California Highway . Lara Tannenbaum, the citys human services manager, who was at the meeting, told The Chronicle last month that officials will meet with residents and any intervention would be done in partnership with them. Meter made: Simple device offers affordable access to water at Oakland He concluded his decision with "I recognize that no party is happy with this order. Homeless advocates said residents were offered alternative shelter spaces. The plaintiffs have raised serious questions that the state will violate their constitutional rights, Orrick wrote in his July order, by placing them in increased danger when it removes them at short notice from the encampment without adequate plans to provide shelter.. Ruined vegetation, broken irrigation lines and damaged fencing at Lake Merritt, as well as degraded water quality in the tidal marsh, will cost the city an estimated $550,000, according to the report. Over the years, advocates have thwarted city attempts to close the encampment, demanding that the city offer residents adequate shelter or to leave them be. Russell Wilson asked for Pete Carroll, Seahawks GM to be fired; QB denies report. Oakland Workers continued Monday to clear the massive homeless encampment along Wood Street in West Oakland. They have lacked funding, housing options and staff, he said. Official Website for the City of Oakland | Mayor Sheng Thao. Oakland's biggest homeless encampment could massively shrink with Review and respond annually to the City's Homeless Encampment Policy and the Permanent Access to Housing Path Plan which shall be presented to the Commission, as well as hear reports on the housing, programs, and services for persons experiencing homelessness in the City including, but not limited to. Local News | Caltrans OK to Clear Oakland's Largest Homeless Encampment, Federal The city plans to offer approximately 40 emergency shelter beds to residents in the first phase of the closure, though its unclear how many people actually live in the affected area. Photos: State clears Wood Street homeless camp, Oakland's largest