Watsonville, Homeless Union agree to early clean-up of Bridge Street homeless camp
WATSONVILLE, Calif. (KION-TV) Watsonville announced that city staff cleaned up the homeless encampment on Bridge Street on Tuesday.
A federal judge had ordered that the homeless encampment on Bridge Street remain in place until Jan. 3, 2022 allow enough time for residents of the encampment to be placed in a temporary shelter, according to the City of Watsonville.
On Dec. 28, the city posted that they were able to find shelter for the members of the encampment over the holiday weekend.
According to the city's post on Dec. 29, officials worked with the Homeless Union attorney and agreed to clean-up earlier since "the City went over and above what was required by the Court’s stipulations sooner than anticipated." The city said that all individuals in the encampment were placed in temporary shelters.
"We appreciate the cooperation of those at the encampment for packing their belongings and helping clean the site before they vacated," the city said. "As we continue to work towards a more permanent solution, we have been connecting members of the encampment with local organizations to find them resources. We also continue to work with County partners to ensure outreach continues to happen throughout our City."
On Dec. 23, Watsonville posted that they would be having staff offer temporary housing at local hotels and shelters for up to 25 people from Dec. 23 and Jan. 3, 2022.
"Members of the encampment have agreed to leave the site," the city said on social media. "City crews will then enter the site to clean and clear the entire encampment."
The Watsonville City Council previously held a special meeting on Dec. 20 for residents' input in the growing homeless encampment on Bridge Street after a scheduled cleanup on Dec. 19 was postponed.
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The city said they had posted a second “Notice to Vacate” that day informing members of the encampment that city crews were going to clear and close the encampment on Dec. 22, but it didn't happen.
Members of this encampment filed a lawsuit against the City of Watsonville.
"We believe many of these members came from Monterey County following a judge’s order that forced them to move," the city said on social media.
The city also said that their staff and community partners have been on-site every day offering services, including temporary housing at local shelters, but members of the homeless encampment refused those resources.
"We are concerned for the health and safety of all those at the site and residents in surrounding neighborhoods," the city said, "There are serious safety, environmental, and sanitary concerns at the encampment that cannot be left unaddressed."
The meeting from Dec. 20 can be seen below.
This story was updated on Dec. 20 at 5:20 p.m. to include the latest information of the judge's ruling to maintain the encampment until Jan. 3, 2022.
This story was updated on Dec. 29 at 12:25 p.m. to add Watsonville's update that city management says they found shelter for people in the encampment over the holiday weekend and decided to clean up the area earlier than Jan 3.
