Crews continue clearing out homeless encampment
Crews are at work clearing a homeless encampment near Highway 86 in Coachella.
Caltrans had given the inhabitants of the encampment notices since January to vacate the area. The agency teamed up with local charities and county officials Monday, providing services to the people being removed from the property. One man who lives near the encampment says the homeless issue here near HWY 86 is a tough issue to fix.
“I’d say some of them are going to pull back and then they’ll come back. Until we find more of a permanent solution for this type of homelessness and it’s not just one solution, its a Multilevel platform of solutions. Everything from camping style housing to an apartment-style housing and small homes,” said Sam Torres, a Coachella resident.
Caltrans is looking to sell the excess land once it has been fully cleared out.
“The whole thing is tough because after being with these people for a year, they become very close to you and you do care for them, so yeah it was difficult,” said Angie Puerta, one of the people evicted from the encampment.
Puerta lived at the encampment for about a year.
“I lost my job and my car and somebody told me, you know what come and stay with us and that’s how I found out about this,” Puerta said.
She’s one of the last, of more than 60 people to be evicted from the location.
Puerta says there is a silver lining in the situation, people living on the property have been offered 30-day hotel vouchers, some have also accepted one-year assisted living opportunities.
“The voucher things leads to housing. They’ll give us a house or apartment, it’s a one year program they help pay with rent and utilities and by the end of the year you should have a job and be able to sustain yourself,” Puerta said.
However, it’s not a solution for everybody. California Highway Patrol said about 30 percent of the inhabitants did not accept services. As for Puerta, she’s hoping to rebuild a life she once had.
“I think Gods given me enough missions and it’s over. I think I’ve earned my stars and stripes and I hope so, but that’s totally up to me,” Puerta said.
California Highway Patrol officers have been monitoring the area and said everyone has been cooperating. They’ve extended the last day to leave the property until Thursday.
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