“I’m hoping that San Jose will be able to help these people,” said one volunteer
SAN JOSE — A once-in-a-decade storm that has battered the Bay Area for nearly two weeks has forced hundreds of homeless residents to abandon their tents and belongings near the city’s rivers and seek shelter indoors.
Since the recent storms, Robert Moffitt, who is unhoused, has been staying at the Red Cross emergency shelter at Seven Trees Community Center in San Jose, Calif. Here, he talks during an interview outside the shelter on Jan. 12, 2023. McKenna, who has responded to disasters ranging from local wildfires to Hurricane Katrina, said the close quarters and “getting this population to live together” have been a big challenge. “Normally they are in open air and sleep farther away from each other. And here we are putting them close together. That adds tension. It adds to security needs,” he said.
On Tuesday night, he found his cot and clothing had been soaked with urine. He was able to wash his clothes in the on-site laundry units and was relieved that emergency volunteers were ramping up cleaning efforts for the community center’s floors and bathrooms. “Now they have all hands on deck,” Wess said.
In addition to the Red Cross, the city, county and a local nonprofit have been on-site referring the shelter’s residents to mental health services and longer-term housing.“They’ve been respectful. They’ve been asking if we need anything,” said Alvaro Aquino, who, along with his fiancee, Veronica Maul, abandoned nearly all of their belongings after the water on the Guadalupe River rose too high.
According to Camarena, the city has posted a minimum of two security guards at Seven Trees. Since security was installed, she said, there haven’t been any calls to the police.
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