RV buyback program offered ahead of major San Jose encampment clearing
SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- San Jose is getting ready to start a major clearing of an encampment at Columbus Park next week.
Hundreds of people are living there in tents and RVs, but much-needed shelter beds are behind schedule and shelters may not be ready to take them all in.
A sign saying 'Where will we go?' is one of many within the massive homeless encampment.
Shaunn Cartwright, founder of the Unhoused Response Group, was at the encampment all day on Monday.
"We keep hearing the hotels are going to be open, the hotels are not going to be open, the tent city is going to be open, it's not going to be open," Cartwright said.
MORE: Sweeps near San Jose's largest homeless encampment begins, will run through summer
She said earlier that morning, people living in their RVs found out about an RV buyback program the city is offering.
"So the buyback program is - if you want to sell your RV, you'll get $2,000 but only on your way to the hotel," Cartwright said.
She described the day as hectic and encouraged people to sign their names on lists the city was offering for a spot at the safe sleeping site or hotels.
"And I know people will say, 'Well you had notice because it's been posted for months,' but nobody knew the details that there was even going to be a buyback program," Cartwright said.
Jerry Drawhorn told ABC7 News that the buyback program doesn't work for him.
"They couldn't give me what this is worth," Drawhorn said.
MORE: San Francisco RV ban, parking restriction sparks concern from neighboring communities
Mayor Matt Mahan said the abatement at Columbus Park will be over the course of three months.
"But again, this will be slow, methodical, thoughtful," Mahan said. "We don't use the term sweep- we're not sweeping people away we're offering people housing, shelter, safe places to go, and we will be very methodical about that."
There aren't enough shelter beds for every unhoused person in San Jose, but the hope is that more and more sites will continue to open.
HomeFirst CEO Rene Ramirez met ABC7 News at the safe sleeping site off Taylor Street, where tents will go on black platforms. It was expected to open in June but now will open the first week of September.
"The hope is this happens over time as shelter opportunities come online," Ramirez said. "I don't think we're expecting everyone to be off of Columbus Park next week; we expect the abatement process to begin next week."
Ramirez said the former Bristol Hotel - one of the five hotels the city is converting into temporary housing - is expected to be open at the beginning of next week.
