The encampment near Mineta San Jose International Airport in San Jose is being shut down by the Federal Aviation Administration for safety reasons.
The area has gotten especially worse over the last three years and San Jose community members want to make sure areas damaged by a massive homeless encampment are cleaned up.
According to the manager of the Guadalupe River Park Gardens Bob Sippel, the growing encampment has brought trash to the park.
"I find rubbers, I find needles, I get 6 to 8 bags of trash a day," said Sippel. But he sympathizes with the camp’s residents. "It’s a tough situation, I understand."
Based on his asking around, he guessed about 22 percent of the people in the encampment would like housing. He and his colleagues have been working on solutions, and think one in particular might be beneficial for both groups.
"Let’s get homes for these people. Let’s give them a job, for lack of a better word, as a 'Guadalupe River Maintenance person,'" Sippel said. "They can wear a vest, get 15 dollars an hour and pick up the trash around here."
The city is working on a removal plan likely to be submitted to the FAA by next month.
Meanwhile, efforts to clean up the trash in the area are ongoing, with assistance from Beautify San Jose as well as Tucker Construction, which removes abandoned boats and cars.
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