Wood Street encampment resident Theo Cedar Jones points to a map of the area hes living near at the Wood Street encampment on April 29, 2022 in Oakland, California.on Friday. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! But the time for finger-pointing and disclaimers of responsibility is over. Sarah Ravani (she/her) is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. The result is a shuffling with no long-term strategy on how to get people into more permanent, supportive housing. Cold Bay Area rains fail to shut down vibrant Holi celebration in Fremont. That site reportedly contained a communal area used to organize donations and cook group meals several nights a week as well as "pop-up clinics, regular open mics, and other community town hall events.". The encampment is. That order was dissolved about a month later, when the city said it was set to open a new tiny home site near the encampment, and a safe parking site in East Oakland for people living in RVs. Related Articles Wood Street residents deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, Husbands-Hankin said. Sign up for our daily newsletter. Local News | If you or someone you know is hungry, homeless, or housing insecure - Call 2-1-1. Tuesday at 3:07 PM. She started her journalism career reporting on crime and breaking news for The News-Press in Southwest Florida. A United Nations report from 2018, for example, stated that a U.N. investigator witnessed officials "attempting to discourage residents from remaining in informal settlements or encampments by denying access to water, sanitation and health services and other basic necessities, [which] constitutes cruel and inhuman treatment and is a . Oakland has a new homeless camp policy, despite protests - The Oaklandside According to a report by the city administrative officer, the new East Hollywood campground costs approximately $2,663 per participant per month. 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 five-days' notice to clear the site. Recommendations from the Commission on how to prioritize the allocation of funds in accordance with the requirements of this Chapter, including for: services and programs for homeless people, reduction of homelessness, and supporting the provision of affordable housing to households qualifying as at least low-income households (those at 55% AMI or below). LA CITY COUNCIL GREENLIGHTS BAN ON HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS 500 FEET FROM SCHOOLS, DAYCARE CENTERS Though Newsom's handling of the Oakland matter was worded authoritatively, the governor has also. Some people keep watch out for fires or other dangers. To report an issue related to an encampment, please email Homelessness@oaklandca.gov. On Monday, police said the man is facing charges for throwing an object at a vehicle. City leaders have been struggling with how to deal with the massive encampment, which has exploded in size over the past seven years. That case was assigned to Judge Orrick, who expressed concern about the short notice and lack of shelter options. City of Oakland | Encampment Management The Commission shall review relevant financial and operational reports related to the expenditure of the homeless services fund. OAKLAND - Caltrans announced Friday that they are shutting down a homeless encampment near the MacArthur Maze in West Oakland due to ongoing safety concerns and a large fire that tore. Hope and Disappointment for the Homeless in Oakland He said, "This TRO is not a long-term prohibition on Oakland's actions but rather a stopgap to prevent violation of constitutional rights that are likely to result from the combination of the state-of-emergency weather situation and the failure to provide alternative shelter.". In the meantime, residents say they live in constant fear that they will be forced to leave with little notice. A large fire broke out at the encampment on Monday,. The encampment spans nearly 25 city blocks with about 300 people living under freeways in tents, RVs and makeshift shelters amid burned-out vehicles, mounds of trash and dirt. At the start of 2020, the city was conducting several camp closures each monthseven in January, and nine each in February and Marchuntil COVID-19 cases began rising and the county went on lockdown. While the city did open a RV safe parking site for 40 vehicles at Wood Street last summer, its struggled to house more residents. Homeless Action Center hiring Staff Attorney in Oakland, California Oakland closes a Fruitvale homeless camp, putting its new encampment But the lots homeless residents, who have developed a tight-knit community they call the Commons, argue theyll suffer when that community is broken up and theyre forced to scatter to other locations including to shelter programs that might not meet their physical and mental health needs. Several non-emergency systems including phone lines within the City of Oakland are currently impacted or offline. Neighbors tell Da Lin the looming closure is long overdue. The Wood Street homeless encampment once housed 200 people and covered 40 acres. He issued a temporary injunction on July 19, 2022. Walters: Is ending Californias homelessness just a matter of money? Oakland has responded to the crisis level surge in homelessness with emergency measures like community cabins. While the city was working to open a safe parking area for RVs that would accommodate 29 vehicles and a "cabin community" with 31 beds, neither site was yet ready for occupancy. Ideally, the auditors office wrote, those calls should have been responded to in 10 to 15 minutes. When U.S. District Court Judge William Orrick issued a temporary restraining order on Jan. 6, 2023, forbidding the city of Oakland from closing a homeless encampment at 1707 Wood St., he told the . Santa Ana, California 92703. Designate high-sensitivity areas, where unmanaged encampments are presumed to cause unreasonably high levels of health and safety impacts due to the nature of the location; Designate low-sensitivity areas, where enforcement will not be prioritized. Its unclear if the transportation agency meant the entire Wood Street encampment or only the part located on land it owns. The Encampment Management Policy seeks to address the adverse health and safety impacts of unsheltered homelessness, with compassion and care to not criminalize poverty. Earlier this month, another federal judge allowed that work to continue. Wood Street encampment in Oakland to be shut down by Caltrans - KRON4 After nearly two-month delay, judge lets Oakland remove homeless camp Several non-emergency systems including phone lines within the City of Oakland are currently impacted or offline. The new report, completed by City Auditor Courtney Ruby, found that the EMT was "overwhelmed by the undertaking of closing and cleaning encampments throughout Oakland." Ruby found that Oakland spent $12.6 million on tasks related to encampments over the past two years, and roughly $1,500 an hour on camp closures and cleanings. But those plans were slow in coming. OaklandWorkers continued Monday to clear the massive homeless encampment along Wood Street in West Oakland. Residents say the camp is a place where they can live how they want after losing stable homes because of evictions or job losses. Both the city and the camps residents have different ideas for what the future should be for the land and the people who live there. A separate request earlier this month to halt Oakland workers from clearing parts of the encampment on land it owns was denied. Mayor Libby Schaaf, city administrator Ed Reiskin, police Chief LeRonne Armstrong and Daniel Cooper, the citys newly appointed homelessness administrator, were at Wood Street on Wednesday. Audit: Oakland's $12.6M homelessness response lacked strategy Thursday evening, representatives from the city of Oakland submitted a plan for a phased closure of the site, beginning at its northernmost edge, where a fire on July 11 sent plumes of black smoke onto the 880 overpass. The city estimates there are at least 140 encampments scattered throughout Oakland. 6 of 23 7 of 23. Walters: Is ending Californias homelessness just a matter of money? Oaklands $12.6 million effort to deal with its recent explosion of homeless encampments was haphazard, lacking strategy, policy direction and adequate funding, according to a scathing new city audit. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. What could reparations mean for Black residents of Alameda County? That's higher than what a typical . Gavin Newsoms administration awarded Oakland a $4.7. Lawsuit demands Oakland crack down on homeless camps - The Mercury News City lawyers had no comment on the ruling. An officer will be dispatched to your location. City Administrator Ed Reiskin said city employees have worked hard to compassionately manage the surge in encampments, while acknowledging they havent always had clear policy direction or sufficient resources. LAPD union supports unarmed responders to certain 911 calls including Partner with us by contributing resources or time to respond to the homelessness crisis. And, he ordered the state transportation agency to work with staff from the city of Oakland and from Alameda County to come up with a plan to relocate residents. Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. She and her husband, Lenton, live in a 20-foot trailer at the Coliseum Stadium parking lot in Oakland. Our Response Homelessness has doubled in the last 10 years. Housing proposal for unhoused leaves Santa Clara residents sharply divided In these situations, the Encampment Response Map will include information about the code violation case instead of details about an encampment cleanup effort. Under state law, working with homeless individuals to identify housing or shelter alternatives is a local, not a state, responsibility.. Ramona Choyce recounts the moment when an April fire killed one person at a homeless encampment on Wood Street in Oakland. Thank you for your patience while we work to restore services. The Commission shall publish an annual report regarding how and to what extent the City Council and Mayor have implemented this Chapter. A surprise sweep of a newly formed homeless encampment on state property has forced some unhoused West Oakland residents to move - yet again. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! 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. Caltrans has completed much smaller sweeps in the past. The man was bleeding and was very confused asking police what he had done wrong. Officials said they do not know when construction on a community cabin site would begin. 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. Both the city and the camps residents have different ideas for what the future should be for the land and the people who live there. He dissolved the TRO immediately, conditioned on the city's representations that there would be sufficient shelter options for the displaced residents. Court Allows City To Close Homeless Encampment At 1707 Wood Street Official Website for the City of Oakland | Mayor Sheng Thao. But Oakland only has 598-city-funded, year-round shelter beds and an estimated homeless population of 4,000 as of 2019 with nearly 80% of those unsheltered. The only way to get through involves stepping over bulky items, bbq grills, bikes, tents, and garbage. It dissolves a restraining order that previously halted Caltrans plans to clear the camp and allows the city to begin a phased closure of the encampment. The spokesperson said officers were at the scene to assist the citys public works department with an intervention and closure of a small part of the encampment. Oakland was overwhelmed by the crisis, leaving staff working to solve the problem without proper training or resources, according to the report. But if it fails to get people into real shelter and housing, it could be a cautionary tale for officials throughout California struggling with mushrooming encampments. City of Oakland | Oakland's Response to Homelessness City and state leaders say a deadly fire that occurred in April at the site, killing one and displacing five, makes action there all the more urgent. We appreciate your patience; the homelessness@oaklandca.gov service has been restored. Now, they live on city property along Wood Streets right-of-way. "I realize that there are alternatives that public policy could be generating that would work better for homelessness than what has happened in the past. 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. He issued a temporary injunction on July 19, 2022. Photograph: Talia Herman/The Guardian 2 arrested as CHP, Caltrans begin clearing Wood Street encampment in Grappling with homelessness, California weighs extending foster care for 5 years To reduce homelessness, we must slow its growth and keep more people in their homes. Complete clearing of total area without option to return, Partial clearing of an encamped area without option to return, Cleaning of an area with the option to return, May apply to a portion of or the total area, Regularly established garbage clearing and temporary sanitation. Audit: Oaklands $12.6 million homelessness, 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), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Bay Area weather: After thunderstorms and hail, snow could be on the way this weekend, Audit: Oaklands $12.6 million homelessness response lacked strategy, direction, 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, After nearly two-month delay, judge allows Oakland to remove large homeless camp. Marisa Kendall is a housing reporter for the Bay Area News Group who covers homelessness for The Mercury News and East Bay Times. As of last week, the city has offered shelter beds to about 70 people at the Wood Street encampment, according to the court filing. The Team provides sanitation services and regular trash pick up. February 22, 2023. Local News | (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group), OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 26: Workers remove debris from the Wood Street homeless encampment on Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, in Oakland, Calif. Caltrans is overseeing the cleanup of its property along Wood Street. The encampment is now so huge that some residents drive buses and motorcycles to get from one end to the other. The city did not say exactly when it planned to begin closing the encampment, but said it would make reasonable efforts to avoid displacing people during excessive rain or very cold weather. Oakland Unveils 100-Person Tiny-Home Village at Troubled Wood Street That case was assigned to Judge Orrick, who expressed concern about the short notice and lack of shelter options. He currently plays for his neighbors outside his shelter, where a piano, guitar and drums are set up. Unhoused people in Oakland built an eco-oasis during the pandemic Theo Cedar Jones (third from right) and other residents of the Wood Street encampment proposed self-governing during a meeting with Oakland staff in July. (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. They asked for resources to make the encampment safer, including access to dumpsters for trash removal, fire extinguishers, sand buckets, water hoses and assistance creating markers throughout the encampment so that emergency service providers could more easily navigate the area. 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. The choice: Leave, or hunker down. The final 2019-2021 budget allocates $32 million to address homelessness by: expanding health, sanitation, safety services for unsheltered residents funding self-governed encampments and temporary housing options such as tiny homes, shipping containers, and mobile homes. Caltrans crews remove a vehicle from the Wood Street encampment in West Oakland on July 19, 2022. hese are vehicles of human beings," he said at the hearing, "and they are not to be lost. Housing | Last year Caltrans cleared a much larger camp between 200 and 300 people on a neighboring lot owned by the transit agency. The city of Oakland agreed to assist residents on identifying their options. The encampment is one of the. Thank you for your patience while we work to restore services. Bay, Heres where California reservoir levels stand after recent rainfall, Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). Homeless Encampment - Issue #13733349 - Civic Center, Oakland, CA 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. Fife said the site which could offer pallet shelters, a community kitchen, bathrooms and wraparound services could house many of Wood Streets residents. Oaklands biggest homeless encampment could massively shrink with planned sweep of 200 people, Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area. OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 26: Workers remove numerous items from the Wood Street homeless encampment on Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, in Oakland, Calif. Caltrans is overseeing the cleanup of its property along Wood Street. street outreach, homeless shelters, transitional housing, housing exits, and permanent supportive housing as needed. The commission also must follow an extensive legal process before being permitted to levy the $6,000 daily fine on Oakland, noted journalist Jaime Omar Yassin . Officials have argued that they dont have enough shelter beds to accommodate the number of people living at the encampment, which spans 25 city blocks. 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.. The City's Public Works crews visit dozens of known encampments throughout the city on a weekly basis to conduct trash removal and garbage cart, porta potty and hand wash station servicing. OAKLAND -- About 80 unhoused residents and their property were being cleared from Caltrans property along Wood Street in Oakland on Thursday following a federal judge's ruling that the state. A. Sep 2022 Q. She started her journalism career reporting on crime and breaking news for The News-Press in Southwest Florida. Oakland Approves Rules to Restrict Homeless Encampments Driven by a housing crisis and continuing economic inequality that hits Oakland's most vulnerable. But Orrick said requiring Caltrans to provide those resources was beyond the scope of the law. Resident Ron McGowan, who lives at the site in question, said there are about 80 people there. LAPD union supports unarmed responders to certain 911 calls including homeless encampment clean-ups 0. And it was clear at the hearing that the city, county and Caltrans still had not worked out a plan for a number of different issues related to the encampment's closure, including who would do the outreach to residents and where residents' belongings would be kept. Los Angeles, California 90012. The audit also found the city needs to collect better data on encampments, increase outreach to unhoused people, provide better notice to camp residents before a camp will be closed, improve its efforts to collect and preserve residents belongings when a camp is closed, and create a comprehensive policy on transporting displaced camp residents. Brigitte Nicoletti, an attorney assisting residents in their pro se lawsuit, reiterated that request at the hearing on Friday. Related Articles The audit found the City was not adequately prepared to shoulder such a massive project and the (encampment management team) was overwhelmed by the undertaking of closing and cleaning encampments throughout Oakland, City Auditor Courtney Ruby wrote in an open letter to Mayor Libby Schaaf, the City Council and other city officials. ", previously halted Caltrans plans to clear the camp. The homelessness crisis also has taken a toll on Oakland's public parks, according to the audit. Rise in Homeless Encampment Fires Worries CA Firefighters Large Homeless Encampment in Oakland California. Sweep of massive Oakland homeless camp stalled by federal judge There were more than 40 people living there on Dec. 22, when Oakland gave notice that it intended to evict all persons on Jan. 9 to clear the site for the development of low-income housing. Reporting an Issue If you or someone you know is hungry, homeless, or housing insecure - Call 2-1-1. Fire sweeps through homeless encampment near MacArthur Maze in Oakland As in the earlier case, the plaintiffs argued, among other things, that the eviction would amount to an unconstitutional state-created danger. This is our home.. She previously covered startups and venture capital for the Bay Area News Group and prior to that court cases for The Recorder in San Francisco. Ruined vegetation, broken irrigation lines and damaged fencing at Lake Merritt, as well as. Stay in touch. 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