San Jose

Caltrans, San Jose Crews Dismantle Homeless Encampment Near Highway 101, I-280 Interchange

Those living in the homeless encampment are the latest group forced to pack up by Caltrans and the city, and find a new place to call home.

Dozens living in a homeless encampment near the Highway 101 and Interstate 280 interchange in San Jose received a brutal wake-up call Monday.

Those living in the homeless encampment are the latest group forced to pack up by Caltrans and the city, and find a new place to call home.

"It wasn't a tent. It was just some tarp that was spread out 'cause I didn't have a tent. I couldn't afford it," Dwight Porsche said of where he called home before being forced to move.

Porsche said he lived beneath the Highway 101 and I-280 interchange for about a year. He moved to the area shortly after being kicked out of The Jungle, the nation's largest homeless encampment, back in 2014.

Now Porsche has to move again.

"We'll probably end up going to family members," he said. "It's hard, but you know we'll find somewhere until they start kicking us out."

Sergio Estrada, who lives in a house next door, said he is relieved to see the encampment go because he has feared for his family's safety.

But Sandy Perry with Sham Deliverance Ministry said Caltrans, San Jose and big businesses need to do more to combat homelessness.

"I think it's a disgrace. We're in the richest city in the richest valley in the richest country in the world at the richest time of our history," Perry said. "And if this is the best they can do for homeless people, then we've got a serious problem."

Caltrans was not immediately available for comment late Monday.

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