Aug 22, 2009 11:40 pm US/Pacific
New Homeless Campground May Soon Be Evicted
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) ―
A local attorney opened up his private property for homeless campers to have a place to stay, but authorities are already warning they will have to shut it down.
Attorney Mark Merin is leasing his property on 13th Street and C Street in Sacramento to about three dozen homeless men and women for one dollar a year, which is meant to give them the legal rights of lessees and property renters.
"It's a matter of human dignity, and it's life and death," said Greg Bunker, executive director of Francis House in Sacramento.
According to Sacramento police, it isn't legal to live in a tent anywhere in the city for longer than 24 hours. The department wouldn't say when, but did say that they would soon enforce the city ordinance and kick the homeless persons out of the property.
The lot is located in a mostly industrial area, with only one home backing up to the property, but the city has received complaints about the campers from nearby residents.
Sacramento police didn't have an answer as to where the campers should go once local homeless shelters fill up, but pointed out that the county is the lead agency to handle the homeless.
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