Governor Gavin Newsom’s State Action for Facilitation on Encampments (SAFE) Task Force has recently cleared homeless encampments on state property in Fresno and San Diego. This action is part of a statewide effort to improve safety and connect unhoused individuals with services and housing. Similar operations have taken place in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Anaheim.
In Fresno, the SAFE Task Force cleared an encampment along Highway 180. Up to 50 people had been living there at times. Caltrans had previously cleared the site several times and collected 63 cubic yards of debris. The encampment often returned after each clearing. To prevent this, Caltrans installed barriers, including rocks, to block access. Local agencies worked with the task force to offer medical services and shelter options to those displaced.
In San Diego, the SAFE Task Force and Caltrans cleared encampments along the 805 freeway. City officials, including Mayor Todd Gloria, said the city is working with state agencies to provide support services alongside encampment removals. The goal is to help people move from street homelessness to safer living situations before clearing the sites…