Time is running out for homeless residents living in a sprawling encampment behind the Strawflower Village shopping center in Half Moon Bay.
The deadline to move out is 7 a.m. Tuesday. They’re being evicted because of concerns over the environmentally-sensitive area where they’re living.
Garbage is accumulating along the section of the Pilarcitos Creek that the city wants to clear out of there.
The encampment has been growing for decades and so has the environmental degradation to this area.
“What do you have people living in close proximity to the creek, you get human waste drug paraphernalia just regular garbage, food waste when it accumulates as much as it has now the damage can be long-term, so we’re trying to be ahead of it, remove all that garbage, and to allow nature to take its course to some degree,” Deputy City Manager Matthew Chidester said.
The area, tucked behind the Safeway at the Strawflower Village shopping center has also been a target for illegal dumping, which compounds the problem.
One sign was posted Friday, giving those living there notice that they had 72 hours to pack up their things and move. Officials say they’ve been working with the estimated 20-25 homeless living there for several months.
Monday is one of several intensive service days they’ve held with homeless service providers who are there to try and tempt the residents out of the camp, and into shelters and other services like outpatient treatment options.
“Well, kinda looks like a landfill,” said David, who did not want to reveal his last name. “It wasn’t like it was before I came a long time ago.”
David says he’s been living in this camp for 20 years. He says he’s willing to move into a shelter but eventually wants to return to Half Moon Bay.
“I need to come back to my home,” David said.
The city and a homeless service provider will be there Tuesday morning making sure there are no last-minute stragglers.
A cleanup crew will begin work after 8 a.m. Tuesday morning.
Because it says an environmentally sensitive area, the work has to be done by hand.
No machines can be involved, so they expect it will take approximately 10 days to pick up all the debris there.