Merced homeless camp to be cleared, Caltrans says

The California Department of Transportation confirmed Monday that plans are afoot to clear out the homeless encampment near the Bradley Overhead on State Route 140, but advocates are asking that the department hold off at least until the end of January.

Though no firm date is set, according to Caltrans spokeswoman Angela DaPrato, California Highway Patrol officers will assist with the removal of those living in a mud- and grass-covered field where the highway meets Kelly Avenue in Merced.

There are also plans by the Merced County Continuum of Care to conduct the annual homeless tally on Jan. 22. The count is used by the Department of Housing and Urban Development to determine how much homeless-related funding to give to the county.

DaPrato said Caltrans plans to team with a homeless liaison before going forward with the removal plan, but which organization has not been determined yet. She said the department will post a notice of the impending cleanup on the state property at least 72 hours before it begins.

A handful of tents and makeshift shelters make up the encampment, which can be seen by drivers who travel the highway to and from Yosemite National Park.

John Bramble, Merced’s city manager, said the encampment has drawn a number of complaints from those concerned with safety and health issues related to a camp with no plumbing. “People have expressed concerns about the safety of the neighborhood,” he said. “They’ve expressed concerns about the people who live there.”

He said complaints have come from people who live near the Bradley Overhead, or others who have seen the camp as they drive in the area.

Billy Alcorn, battalion chief for the Merced Fire Department, said the fires set by the people in the camp trying to stay warm can get out of hand quickly near makeshift buildings.

He said firefighters have to extinguish structures engulfed in flames, as well as smaller fires, periodically at the encampment. “It’s a safety issue for us,” he said.

Earlier this year, city workers cleared out another encampment in town along Bear Creek. Just before Thanksgiving, about 10 workers cleared trash and any belongings left behind by those living on one bank of the creek.

Renee Davenport, who serves on Continuum of Care committees, said clearing out homeless people before conducting the annual count that brings money to the area doesn’t make sense. “That, to me, is just counterproductive,” she said.

Continuum receives about half a million dollars a year from HUD based on estimates of the number of homeless in Merced County.

The camp has been there about two years and is home to about 40 people, she said, so the removal can wait at least until the end of January.

Beyond that, she said, breaking up homeless camps is not a long-term solution for Merced’s homeless. “If they have no money and no means to get around anywhere, what do you think they’re going to do?” she asked.

The $41.2 million Bradley Overhead project was completed in November.

This story was originally published December 29, 2014 at 8:25 PM with the headline "Merced homeless camp to be cleared, Caltrans says."