Soledad moves dozens from riverbed encampment to provisional site

SOLEDAD, Calif. (KION) - Over a dozen individuals living in a longstanding encampment along a riverbed near the movie theater in Soledad are now being relocated to a new provisional encampment at 990 Los Coches Road. The city says the move is part of a larger effort to address homelessness while providing basic services and safety.

The once-empty lot at the new site is now filled with tents, as residents make the transition with help from city staff and volunteers. Large storage bins were lined up outside the former encampment, used to help transport belongings up the hill to the new location.

“We’re just going to be taking trips from the riverbed to the encampment site,” said Beatriz Trujillo, Soledad’s Director of Community and Economic Development.

For residents like Manuel, the moving process hasn’t been easy.

“It’s slow, it was difficult deciding what to bring and leave behind,” he said.

Clarissa Duran, who lived in the riverbed encampment for three years, described the hardships of daily life there, including limited access to basic hygiene.

“It’s been difficult out here — just the way of showering, using the bathroom, getting by day by day,” she said.

While Duran appreciates that the new site offers showers and restrooms, she voiced concerns about what she perceives as increased control.

“They're just keeping us more in control… I don’t like the idea of how they’re taking us over there,” she added.

The move marks Phase One of Soledad’s encampment resolution plan. Residents will stay at the provisional site for three months before transitioning to modular housing units.

The project was made possible through $4.6 million in funding from the state’s Encampment Resolution Fund, in partnership with Monterey County.

“If it wasn’t for that funding source, the city would not have enough to do this,” said Soledad Mayor Anna Velasquez.

As for the future of the now-cleared riverbed site, City Manager Megan Hunter said the city plans to enforce no-camping policies and enhance visibility in the area.

“We’ll be doing enforcement,” Hunter said. “Our police department will partner with the sheriff’s office since it crosses jurisdictions. We’ll look to trim the area, add cameras, and maintain a hard line — we’ve cleaned it up and done our job.”

To promote transparency, the city has also scheduled a public workshop to explain how the provisional encampment will operate and address any community concerns.