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About
the ProgramHow it Works Program Plan About the Program
Homeless encampments pose an ongoing problem for public access, water quality and wildlife habitat in natural and public access areas around Humboldt Bay. The Humboldt Bay Public Access Enhancement Project will demonstrate an innovative, cost-effective, long-term approach to reducing the homeless encampment problem in natural and public access areas around Humboldt Bay by cleaning areas and making them more attractive and accessible to the general public, while also providing information to homeless individuals on available services.
Currently, homeless encampment cleanups are carried out by the Eureka Police Departments and Public Works Dept. Cleaning up encampments drains the resources of the City Eureka and diverts city staff from other public safety and land management duties. In addition, cleaning up encampments without connecting homeless individuals to services does not provide a long-term solution to the encampment problem. Typically, individuals will move from one natural area to another as a result of current cleanups.
The North Coast Resource Center (NCRC) recently initiated the New Directions program to take an alternative approach to homeless encampments. Through the program, a group of trained case managers and volunteers approach and engage illegal campers, offering resources referrals and education in “good neighbor” conduct. Many of the volunteers in the program are homeless or formerly homeless participants in the NCRC’s Back to Basics employment readiness program. The first encampment visit is purely introductory and educational in nature. The New Directions crew of case managers and participants in the Back to Basics employment readiness program approaches the encampment. The inhabitants of the encampment that are present at the time are engaged in discussion and informed of resources available to them locally. Agency contact information is handed out and future contact encouraged, and inhabitants are told that the New Directions crew will return in 48 hours to clean the camp. If no individuals are present, written material, clean-up date notification and business cards are securely posted at the location. If this is the case, a second attempt to make personal contact is made. After this point, the New Directions crew comes prepared to remove all debris, and all trash and litter is taken away. Personal belongings collected are inventoried and stored for 30 days. Notification of collection and storage is securely posted at the location together with instructions for retrieval of belongings. Maintenance visits keep areas cleared of debris and discourage re-establishment of the encampment(s).
The project will provide funding for homeless encampment cleanups at a number of natural and public access areas around Humboldt Bay, including areas that were purchased with Conservancy funding. Encampment cleanups will be conducted in cooperation with the Cities of Eureka and Arcata, who are the landowners of the areas in question. The program will result in the cleanup of approximately 4 large encampments or a larger number of small encampments. It is anticipated that the general public will increase their use of these areas as a result, and that wildlife habitat and water quality will be enhanced.
Phone: 707-822-5008
Email: admin@arcataendeavor.org
501 9th Street, Arcata, CA 95521
