Possible transitional encampment locations to be discussed in Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz city leaders are working on solutions to the homeless problem with discussions scheduled to continue during Tuesday evening’s council meeting.

The former city-run camp at 1220 River Street is listed as the preferred location, however, the city is looking into a list of city-owned properties which could also serve as transitional camps, depending on a number of variables.

Any ordinance on transitional encampments or “safe parking” programs is based on helping slowly move the city’s homeless out of the camp behind the Ross store off River Street.

City leaders are trying not to rush the process because they feel it would be counterproductive to helping the transitioning process.

They list some risks to the process, including pushback from some of the residents who feel any possible encampment location would be too close to where they live.

Some of those individuals living at the encampment already say they’re feeling pushback by being at the camp.

“We hear them at night driving by yelling slang words,” says Austin Jones. “This happens while we’re sleeping. Sometimes you hear them hold down their horns as they drive by.”

Another the city lists is whether or not local non-profits step in to run transitional encampments within city limits.

The city is also concerned about the possibility of extra costs to the city they currently aren’t anticipating.

As the transition talk continues, Austin Jones and Jade Fowler say they feel safer at the current encampment.

“Before we moved into the camp we just lived wherever we could and got almost everything stolen,” says Fowler.

The city will meet to discuss possible transitional encampment locations during the city council meeting tonight at 7 p.m.

The meeting will take place at 809 Center Street in Santa Cruz. For the preliminary report from the city, click here