OAKLAND (KCBS RADIO) – After a fire tore through a homeless encampment in Oakland on Monday, the city has begun dismantling what is left, in an effort to move the residents to a better site.
For more, stream KCBS Radio now.
But many of the camp's residents don't want to leave, despite the recent disruption, according to reporting by KTVU.
The blaze took out cars, RVs, tiny homes, and an abandoned train trestle at the site and even set off little explosions.
While it wasn't the first fire in the area, at 34th Street and Wood Street just under the I-880 freeway, it was definitely the largest.
The site has been plagued with many issues since it started growing during the pandemic and the city has obtained a $4.7 million grant to change the area into an "intervention site," the station reported.
Since the fire, structures are being dismantled, including a tiny home, and the effort will continue Wednesday and Thursday, according to the station.
But while some of the residents don't want to leave, at least 11 need to find alternative housing as of Wednesday, the station reported.
"It's scary sometimes, but it's also the only home we've known out here," one such resident, Jessica Blackwell, told the station.
She and other residents want to be apart of the conversation of what's going to happen to the site, and want to be able to stay, according to the station
"It's another punch to the gut, but there's enough of us here," she told the station. "There's strength in numbers. There's enough of us out here wanting to stay for the right reason."
DOWNLOAD the Audacy App
SIGN UP and follow KCBS Radio
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Related
