Crews are clearing a large homeless encampment that settled on Apple property in North San Jose, California.
Dozens of people experiencing homelessness called the undeveloped lot on Component Drive home until 7 a.m. on Thursday when Apple began the eviction process.
Apple gave each person on the site until noon Friday to remove their things from the area. The tech company also provided the displaced with nine months of free temporary housing and a year of case management support.
"You could go to an interim hotel, you could go to the Boccardo Reception Center with case management or you could go to a safe parking site with case management," said Andrea Urton, the CEO of HomeFirst — a local provider of services, shelter and housing that Apple had partnered with.
Despite efforts by Apple to aid the unsheltered during their move, activists have criticized the eviction.
"It was completely disorganized," Shaunn Cartwright, founder of the Unhoused Response Group, told KCBS Radio. She believes the most valuable company in the world could have done more.
"They could have repaired all the vehicles," she said. "Thirthy-three vehicles were marked that they needed repair or registration and they chose not to. They chose to just get people off their property as fast as they could."
In a statement to KCBS Radio, Apple said it has prioritized combatting the housing crisis across California, pointing to more than $1 billion its given for new housing projects.
"In San Jose, we have been closely coordinating with local partners for several months to identify housing alternatives and support for families,” the multinational electronic company said. “We have ensured individuals currently on that site will have access to a range of housing options, casework resources, and other supportive services during this process."
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