Chaos, confusion and fear: Hundreds of unhoused living in Columbus Park in San Jose are wondering where they will go next, with the city planning to sweep the encampment Monday morning.
The looming question for many in the encampment is: Where will I go next? Many have met with legal experts to find out their rights.
With San Jose planning to start sweeping the city’s largest encampment on Monday, the clock is ticking and few have secured a new place to live.
“It’s horrible. I’ve been here 6 1/2 years.” said Katherine Davis, considered the unofficial mayor of Columbus Park who says she hopes she can stay in a city-run motel but she still doesn’t have a room.
“I would like them to delay the sweep because there’s only almost 400 of us out here and they have not enough beds for us.” said Davis.
Some of the unhoused at Columbus Park had hoped to sleep here at the city’s new navigation center near Watson Park, but because of construction delays it won’t be open until the end of this month.
James Shaw lives in his car and doesn’t know where he’ll go. He says he’s frustrated the city is forcing people here to leave.
“Just moving everybody around, it’s just going to cause them to go back into the woodwork, and then those people that are looking for help, legitimate help, are just going to disappear” said Shaw.
Homeless advocates say the city has provided little information about the upcoming sweep and housing options.
“It is a lack of communication from beginning to end” said Shaunn Cartwright with Unhoused Response Group.
In an earlier interview Mayor Matt Mahan said in the next couple months the city plans to open up more than 400 housing units.
“We have timed this rollout so that as we are cleaning up this site, removing unsafe and inoperable vehicles, and opening motels and a new safe sleeping site, we can offer people a safe and managed alternative that has security, sanitation, three meals a day [and] on-site case management.” said Mahan.
He says the sweep could take three months.
Source: NBC Bay Area
Be First to Comment