SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KCBS RADIO) – For the past few years, hundreds of people have been camped along the San Lorenzo River in Santa Cruz.
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"Benchlands" is the city's largest homeless encampment, but now the city is starting the process of moving those people out, and it's unclear where everyone will go.
Some are being moved to different streets in the city, as signs posted around the camp have gone up ordering residents to leave.
While there are an estimated 225 people living in the camp at the moment, people are being asked to move out in phases, according to the latest update on the city's website last week.
City officials put up fencing last Tuesday, closing off a segment of the park located northern point of the Benchlands, near the Water Street Bridge.
There are around 29 people living in that portion being ordered to relocate on Monday and Tuesday this week, with one of the alternative housing options being a city program outside an old armory.
The safe sleeping site is the City Overlook Shelter, operated by the Salvation Army, includes 75 tents outside the building and was expanded to include 60 tent spaces inside as well.
While this and other shelters are helpful, there isn’t enough space to accommodate everyone.
In the past, when the river flooded last December making the camp uninhabitable, officials moved people to the top level of a nearby parking garage. But that solution didn't last long, and it doesn't look like that will be the answer this time around either.
According to the city, the encampment needs to close because it's become a significant threat to public safety.
City officials aim to reopen the Benchlands as a public space after some restoration work is done on the affected areas, which could take several months.
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