Some businesses and people living near encampments are hoping for extra patrols and trash cleanup in the meantime.
CHICO, Calif. - It's been nearly a month since the City cleared the homeless out of Comanche Creek and some people are wondering which homeless camp is next – and when.
Several businesses and people near Windchime Park and the Highway 99 bike path said they have gotten used to seeing homeless encampments around the City. While they hope the areas are eventually cleared and that shelter spaces fill up, people are hoping for more support until then.
"It's a big mess right now and I just wish the City would do something about that and kind of just make this neighborhood a little better. I would hope maybe the Chico Police or even the sheriff would make more rounds around the neighborhood just so my neighbors and everyone around my store knows that they're safe and everyone comes and does a neighborhood check once in a while," Boucher Street Market Owner Karamvir Janda said.
Other businesses nearby have been familiar with the settlement agreement for a while and hope more people will take advantage of the shelter options available.
"One of the first projects we started when I was working here is working with the city on the pallet shelter and providing some materials for them and that was a big positive for me coming to the business seeing that they do see the homeless community and they are willing to reach out through the channels they can to provide help. An increase in those programs for sure is what I would like to see," Square Deal Mattress Factory Sales Associate Aurora Jarrell said.
The City of Chico Public Works Director Erik Gustafson shared the following statement regarding the delay in determining the next spot for enforcement.Â
"The Plaintiff's Counsel did request an informal conference with Judge Newman regarding our next area of enforcement. Per the judge's schedule it likely won't happen until late next week. So unfortunately for now, we're in a holding pattern."
Neighbors living near the Highway 99 bike path hope a decision about the next spot for enforcement, one way or another, will come soon.
"We'd like a timeframe. We'd like to look forward to something. And this not knowing and living in limbo and living with the issues going along with it that's the frustrating part," Sally Jungling said.
Some of the people that denied available shelter space or are not eligible for shelter have also moved to an alternate site approved by the city on Eaton and Cohasset rd.
As of Aug. 15, there are 41 available pallet shelters, 41 beds available at the Torres Shelter and four open women's beds, and one open men's bed at the Jesus Center.
