(KRON) — The city of San Jose is preparing to clear nearly 1,000 people from the largest homeless encampment at Columbus Park by Aug. 18.
Residents of the encampment, which has been a longstanding community for the unhoused in San Jose, are organizing to resist the sweep. Local organizations have formed a group called GRACE — Guadalupe Residents Advocating for Community Empowerment — to advocate for those affected.
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The encampment at Columbus Park has become a makeshift community for its residents, who are now facing uncertainty about their future. With the deadline approaching, the unhoused individuals are holding town hall meetings to discuss their options.
GRACE reached out to city officials to attend the newly formed town hall meetings and address resident questions, but were rejected, according to emails sent to KRON4 News. The city has affirmed its plans to clear the park by the deadline, leaving many residents feeling unheard.
As the Aug. 18 deadline approaches, the residents of Columbus Park and their advocates continue to seek answers and support, hoping to find a solution that addresses their needs and concerns.
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Watch the full report from KRON4’s Jack Molmud in the video at the top of this story.
All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KRON4. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KRON4 staff before being published.
Source:: News San Francisco – KRON 4