We have a question about the creekbed west of Santa Teresa.
We’ve called the police many times before. There are at least 10 to
12 homeless encampments.
We have a question about the creekbed west of Santa Teresa. We’ve called the police many times before. There are at least 10 to 12 homeless encampments. The problem more than that is the waste, the debris that’s directly in the creekbed, as well as shopping carts, as well as, farther up the road, it looks like a small meth cooker. A little operation up there.
and …
I want to find out who I contact. I live out in the country, off Leavesley Road and there’s a home back here that has a garage and I think someone is living in it. I don’t think there’s a bathroom or anything. There’s a Porta-Potty out there. I’d just like to know who I can contact to come check that out. Someone deserves better than that to live in. I’d appreciate your help. Thank you.
and …
I’m wondering if anyone in charge of the old DMV building at Howsen and Church streets, ever goes by and takes a look. We went by on the weekend and there were three or four homeless people camped out there. I went by this morning and there was a homeless man washing his feet from the water faucet on the Howsen Street side, so apparently the water’s still connected. Thanks.
& Red Phone: Dear Callers, Your concerns are understandable. There are frightening examples like the homeless man in Gilroy who was recently found masturbating in a woman’s backyard.
As more homes are being foreclosed on, and more people suddenly find themselves without homes, many are just trying to find a quiet place to sleep and usually are more concerned with other homeless people than with residents.
“When people are living in encampments, they are just trying to stay safe in absence of regular housing,” said Dina Campeau, a homeless person’s advocate with St. Joseph’s Family Center. “Usually people who are homeless are victims of crime rather than perpetrators of crime.”
Lynn Terzian, who works for Santa Clara County Office of Homeless Concerns, agreed.
“If code enforcement is called out, that person or family will probably be displaced and may not be able to find other shelter,” Terzian said. “It’s a tough call, but the reality is that there is not enough housing or shelter for all the folks that have no homes. Your writer is correct, no one deserves to live like that.”
To see what the county is doing visit destinationhome.ning.com for information on the work of Destination Home and www.sccgov.org and go to Homeless Concerns to see the work being done by the Santa Clara County Collaborative on Affordable Housing and Homeless Issues.
Administrators from St. Joseph’s meet with the police each month to discuss ways that they can help meet the longterm needs of the homeless.
“St Joseph’s and other advocates and the Gilroy Police are working together on this,” Campeau said. “But the lack of low cost housing makes it tough to solve right away. There is a concerted effort to get to know the folks and get them to trust us.”
For information, Gilroy’s homeless shelter is at the National Guard Armory at 8940 Wren Avenue. It’s part of EHC LifeBuilders (www.ehclifebuilders.org). The shelter will be closing at the end of the month.
Campeau encourages people to contact Marty Estrada at St. Joseph’s at 842-6662 ext. 30 or em******@ya***.com regarding a homeless camp or to offer a job or residence to a homeless person.
Also, residents can contact the Gilroy Police Department: 911 in an emergency case and 846-0350 in a non-emergency.
