Additional Coverage:
- Homeless people say they will likely return to sites if California clears them under Newsom’s order (newsbreak.com)
LOS ANGELES — Joel Hernandez established a modest wooden structure beneath the 405 freeway in Los Angeles three years ago with a friend’s help, who has his own similar setup just a short distance away, reached by stairs Hernandez carved from the adjacent hillside.
At 62, Hernandez is no stranger to having his homes demolished during sweeps of homeless encampments by municipal or state officials. However, he remains philosophical about the impermanence of his current dwelling on state property, given California Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent mandate for the clearing of such encampments from state-owned lands.
“You get used to it,” Hernandez remarked. “Each time, I just rebuild.”
This sense of resignation is common among those residing in these makeshift communities. With no clear alternatives, many are left wondering about their next destination.
The directive from Governor Newsom followed a Supreme Court decision that upheld the right of cities to prohibit sleeping in public spaces, even when no shelter beds are available. Newsom has instructed state agencies to accelerate their efforts, following the example set by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), which has removed over 11,000 encampments and cleared nearly a quarter-million cubic yards of debris since mid-2021.
However, the clearing is often temporary as many, including Hernandez, return to their spots. Hernandez has been on a shelter waitlist for three years, with no alternative that matches the community and proximity to friends his current location provides.
Despite acknowledging the dangers—he recently witnessed a fire that ravaged many shelters in the area—Hernandez and others feel compelled to return after each clearing.
Nearby, Esca Guernon and her dog, Champion, face similar challenges with disturbances and theft but find themselves returning to the familiarity of their spot by the freeway.
In response, local outreach teams, like those from Hope the Mission in Van Nuys, are ramping up efforts to build trust with these communities, offering immediate aid and working to secure shelter placements, though they recognize the challenges exacerbated by the state’s clearing orders.
Outreach team leader Armando Covarrubias criticized the governor’s order for putting additional strain on the homeless without providing real solutions or alleviating the root issue of homelessness, accentuating the cycle of displacement without resolution.
Governor Newsom and his supporters argue that the clearings are necessary to address public health and safety risks posed by the encampments, stressing the need for more proactive measures from local governments.