Crime & Safety

What is Campbell PD Doing About the Homeless?

Are homeless encampments and individuals more commonplace in the Orchard City recently?

 

Campbell resident Scott Cofer says the homeless issue has been one that he has seen over the years near his Union Avenue home, but within the last few months has grown worse.

"There have been people coming and going for years and we always call the cops (who take care of it)," Cofer says. "It's just gotten so much worse in the last few months. Next time you're driving up 17, look to your right after Camden and before the sign for the Hamilton exit. There's a break in the sound wall where you can see all sorts of garbage piling up. Plastic sheeting and blankets and stuff. That's the back of our complex. Not cool."

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He says that although his apartment complex has the "usual" people digging through dumpsters and panhandlers at Bascom and Hamilton avenues, Cofer notes that the attitude of the individuals have changed.  

"Is it just me or are there more of them? And more aggressive, too," he says.
"Is this a sign of the times or is San Jose kicking out some of their homeless?"

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In neighboring San Jose, there has been a massive effort to clean up existing homeless encampments. In March, one location that was home to 120 individuals was cleaned up.

Campbell Police are aware of this particular location, Campbell Police Capt. Dave Carmichael says, but the issue is a complex one.

"We have responded to this location in the past to check on encampments and take enforcement action," Carmichael says. Homeless encampments are commonplace, particularly along freeways and the Los Gatos Creek Trail.

"Our response is to attempt contact with the subject(s) and determine if there is any enforcement action that should be taken," he says. "We attempt to connect them with social services if appropriate. Unfortunately, we find that many of the chronically homeless are either unwilling or unable to stay in shelters for a variety of reasons including substance abuse, behavior problems, etc."

If the homeless encampment is along the freeway, like it is in Cofer's case, the police notify Caltrans to clean it up. If it is located along the creek trail, Campbell Public Works or the Santa Clara County Water are contacted.

"It should be noted that by law, we are required to post a notice for the subjects to clean-up the area and remove their belongings before any clean-up may begin," Carmichael says. "We are also required by law to store items of obvious value for future claim. "

As for the influx of individuals based on San Jose's cleanup efforts, Carmichael says that he is not aware of the larger city's efforts resulting in any recent changes to Campbell's homeless population.

"But is challenging to have an accurate count of homeless at any given time since they move around constantly," he says. "One encampment will be cleaned up and the subjects leave, just to have it reappear a few days later with different individuals. "

According to the 2011 Santa Clara County Homeless Census and Survey, there were 7,045 homeless individuals living within Santa Clara County.

 

 

Related articles:

  • Viewfinder: Housing the Homeless
  • Gary's Story: Being Homeless in Campbell
  • Homeless in Campbell: Through Gary's Eyes
  • How Campbell PD is Helping the Homeless in Campbell
  • Homelessness in Silicon Valley: How Things Have Changed
  • Memorial Honored 61 Homeless Deaths in 2011
  • Westmont Teen's Senior Project Helps the Homeless
  • Turning Numbers Into Names: Homeless Registry Kicks Off Today

 

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