The couple that owns the land, Shelly and Jason Stewart, just realized there's a good chance they'll have to pay for the cleanup and that they need permission from the state to do so.
More than 1,000 people countywide lose a place to stay every month and the region's shelter system has nowhere near enough space for everybody asking for help, and camping bans in multiple cities that have boosted penalties for sleeping outside.
When encampments are cleared, homeless people themselves often have the most to lose… all sorts of belongings were being illegally trashed, including personal documents needed to find jobs and housing.
Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order over the summer telling agencies to clear encampments on state property, and the California Department of Transportation has increased sweeps in recent years. However, the directive didn't come with any new funding.
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