California's homeless crisis escalates: makeshift caves above Tuolumne River dismantled amidst ecological concerns

The caves were uncovered along the Tuolumne River in the Californian city of Modesto, according to a report by the "New York Times". Access to these rooms was via stairs carved into the hillside. Public service officials raised concern over these unauthorized dwellings, stating, "These camps were essentially caves dug into the riverbanks," as reported by the Modesto Police Department via Facebook.

According to the officers, over three tons of garbage were removed from the living spaces during the clearance operation, filling two trucks and a trailer. "It was surprising to see how they managed to accumulate so many items up there, given the difficulty in moving items up the hill," remarked Chris Guptill, a volunteer from Operation 9-2-99.

The likelihood of the caves collapsing is a significant concern and could result in a natural catastrophe, expressed a resident, Tracy Rojas. As relayed to CBS 13, Rojas evidenced that the caves appeared fully established. Photos obtained by the station displayed furniture such as tables, chairs, supplies-filled chests, and even a few shelves stocked with food and spices. "There were hooks on the walls with various items hanging," she described. "I think the homeless issue should receive more attention. They are visibly in a state of desperation," she added.

Public services and volunteers cleaning the riverbank suspect that the homeless may attempt to reclaim the area, as such incidents have happened previously. Following the eviction of the caves' inhabitants in November 2022, they returned to the exact location. "Given that it has already happened that people tried reopening the caves, I don't believe sealing them would be effective," posited volunteer Chris Guptill.

The police have announced they are collaborating with local services to relocate the homeless individuals from the caves and supply them with adequate sheltering alternatives. As stated by local officials, erosion and flooding pose a significant danger to the camp's residents.

Source: New York Post