OAKLAND (KCBS RADIO) – A federal judge is siding with the homeless residents living under the I-880 freeway in Oakland, allowing them to stay where they are, at least for now.
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Caltrans has been ordered to halt the forced removal until it has more of a plan for the people living there. All this comes in the wake of a smoky fire that broke out at the Wood Street encampment on July 11 that halted freeway traffic.
Many people who live and work near the Wood Street encampment said they are tired of waiting for the city and the state to clean up the sprawling homeless zone.
"I've been dealing with the homeless in the area for the last 6 years," Daniel Burns said.
Burns lives in a condo building across from the Wood Street encampment and he's watched it go from bad to worse, with over 90 fires - including a fatality - and constant crime.
"I don't want to blame the homeless I get it there's issue with drugs and mental illness, but the crime increased in our neighborhood," he explained. "Crime has increased in everyone’s neighborhood."
However, the people who live in the encampment describe it very differently.
"Absolutely it's a community and there is a great value staying here. I know everybody here," Matt said.
Matt has been here about a year, he works on old cars along Wood Street. He said he'll leave if he has to, but needs more time.
"Well, I think I need two weeks because yeah know we all are pretty much hand to mouth here so we don't have any resources to dip into," Matt said.
Caltrans said it is working with the city to help the residents find temporary housing before a more permanent shelter is built here.
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