Salinas to implement strict enforcement of overnight camping ordinance

Residents at Sherwood Park’s homeless camp are wondering where else they can stay as the city plans strict enforcement of its overnight camping ordinance.

The homeless at the camp say they’re growing tired of being moved from place to place and even further from where they feel safe at night.

City leaders say the park was never meant for camping. Right now they’re helping the homeless with vouchers, applying at the new Moon Gate complex and acknowledging what services the homeless at the camp need.

Some of the homeless at Sherwood Park say they’re also concerned about where their newfound friends will go when the camping ordinance is enforced.

“It’s funny because we’re like family,” says homeless resident, Linda Contreras. “When one of us is having trouble we tend to help each other out. The city doesn’t.”

The city says it’s going to take time to transition people out of the Sherwood Park camp. They’re also gauging the interest of campers in the new shelter scheduled to be placed near Natividad Hospital.

Some the homeless are looking forward to getting back on their feet and see the camping ordinance enforcement as an opportunity to do so.

“I’m gonna get myself out of here because I don’t want to be worried about where I’m going to sleep next,” says Homeless resident Maggie Rosas. “By living out here I’m just hurting myself and I’m tired of hurting myself.”

Homeless advocates are also helping guide the city through the Sherwood Park camp in an effort to better know those who live there.

“The process is to care and invest and find those of us in the community here who you can walk with,” says Pamela Weston. “Actually learning the names of the people and see what we can do to change their circumstances.”

The city admits very few of those homeless qualify for housing now.

Meanwhile the Sherwood Park area will be cleaned weekly, leading up to the July 10th closure date.