Property owner clears out homeless encampment in Coachella

Some land near I-10 and the Dillon Road exit in Coachella is being cleared out by the property owner. The area is being cleared of brush and debris, but a homeless encampment is also located on the property.

“They came and they told us that they were going to bulldoze the place, but they said they were going to compensate us a little to help move so bad,” said Ruben, who lives at the homeless encampment. “I’ve been waiting for them to come. and they said no, they’re going to mow the place down. so I’m pretty pissed about that.”

One of the people staying at the encampment told KESQ News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 that at least 30 homeless people are now being removed from the area and don’t know where they’re going to go next. And a dangerous heat wave is entering the desert this week.

Some are happy to see the encampment come down.

“They’re just a bunch of druggies and no-goods and they steal things, they steal all of the time, and they probably steal cars, take them apart, and sell the parts for their drugs,” said Raymond Cretin.

Dangerous Heat Wave: Temperatures expected to reach into the 110+ range this week

The news is coming right after Roy’s of the Desert, a homeless resource center in Palm Springs, officially closed its doors. The Coachella Valley Rescue Mission is expected to be much busier now that the west valley homeless shelter is no longer operating.

Coachella Valley homeless crisis grows in east valley Read: Roy’s of the Desert homeless resource center is officially closed

The Rescue Mission has been helping those like John Bell, who’s had experience with his encampment being torn down.

“Take a bulldozer and run through your house where you live, okay, and see how you react. I mean, everything you owned. everything you’ve known, where you lay your head, where you cuddle with your loved ones, is all gone.”

Mission staff say rising numbers could pose issues — stemmed from Roy’s closing — and people trying to beat the heat.

“With Roy’s scaling back and closing today, we’re still adding people to the intake line, the waiting list, and we’re trying to help as many people during the day as we can,” said Tom Cox, Program Director for the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission.

Cox says Thursday night, their emergency shelter took in 91 people. which is well more than their capacity of 75, and with Roy’s closing and the encampment shutting down, he says like the expected temperatures, they’re expecting their capacity to be well into the triple digits this weekend.

But staff say they’ll look to house as many as they can — to keep cool this weekend.

“We’re trying to get everybody out of the heat, take their mind off of what’s going on,” Cox said.

Now Cox says the mission will likely have to turn away some people with increased numbers expected this weekend. He also says the mission is in need of supplies, such as diapers, underwear, socks, and shorts.

You can donate to the CVRM here.

Read: More of today’s Top Stories Check: Your First Alert Weather Forecast for the Coachella Valley Watch KESQ & CBS Local 2 online