Crews clear camp along San Diego

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) – San Diego crews are working to clear a huge homeless encampment along the San Diego River.

“We’re here implementing the last part of the resolution to close the camp,” said Franklin Coopersmith of San Diego Environmental Services.

Debris of broken tents, garbage and many other things littered the sandy bank of the channel.

“We conduct an accounting of the river bed three times a year. And our last census was our highest we’ve ever seen,” said Sarah Huntmacher of the San Diego River Park Foundation.

The city is in the middle of a cleanup that began Tuesday, which he estimates has cleared approximately 10 to 15 tons of debris.

“What we are actually going through is the process of reducing emissions. We gave everyone 24 hours notice,” Coopersmith said. cover in Franklin – 00;00;52

“As you can see here, we have our crane and some other packers and roll-offs are taking it out of here.”

ABC 10News spoke with people who lived here, like Jake Weaver, as they left the camps Tuesday.

“I’m worried about where I’m going to sleep tonight and if I’m going to have any things when I wake up,” Weaver said.

the city says he will have a place to stay.

it is using a $3.6 million state grant to fund ways to provide services and housing for river residents. This is the same type of grant funding the city used to help those living along the I-15 corridor.

This is the city’s first step in cleaning up these encampments here along the San Diego Riverbed as they continue to move upriver. City officials say they are providing resources to people using a government grant before they begin clearing the encampments.

“What is intensive case management using both housing navigation and street medicine to connect these individuals to services that will help them end the cycle of homelessness” Ketra Carter, City of San Diego Homelessness Strategies and Solutions

Crews will clear this section of the river by Friday. Weaver has high hopes for what’s to come.

“I would like to have ID, housing and some things to be able to get back on my feet and go back to work. I’m not used to not working,” Weaver said.

City officials added that it is critical that the camp closures and cleanup happen because of the high tides expected next week.