November 20, 2105 (KMJ) – A final eviction came Friday of a homeless encampment in the county limits of Mendota on property owned by Westlands Water District. The order was carried out by the Fresno Country Sheriff’s Office Civil Unit. Sheriff Margaret Mims and six deputies handed out the eviction notices along with Animal Control officers, and homeless advocates; the Fresno Madera Continuum of Care who were there to make the transition as easy as possible for the group of people and their pets.
Originally about 40 people were living there in a ditch on the west side of Highway 33, north of Bass Avenue, but only around 20 people were left.
For the past three years, 34 year-old Jerry was living in a ditch by the Westside of Highway 33, sometimes working in the fields.
“Its hard to find work at this time of year. I mean about a month of two ago, I was working in the melons making about $1000 a week – the melons ended and now I’m screwed. – Jerry, Living in Mendota area encampment.
Maria is worrying about her dogs, and seems apprehensive when Animal Control comes over to tell her they will take care of them.
Liz Kern: Maria, you have dogs here?
Maria: Oh, she (animal control) already got rid of (sic) yesterday – oh, she had puppies.” Maria, living in camp.
Why she and Jerry (pictured below left, carrying basket) along with the dozens of other residents are living in a ditch is complex. Some are field workers affected by the drought and fallowed fields, drugs and mental illness can be issues. It’s complex according to Jody Ketcheside from the Fresno Madera Continuum of Care.
“In all of the years I’ve been doing this, I’ve never had a homeless person tell me ‘this is where I want to be, you know, I enjoy sleeping on the streets’ no one has ever said that, no one grows up and says I want to be homeless when I grow up.
But with Jody’s help, if they allow it, some people in this camp may find a real roof over their heads.
As for Jerry…
Liz Kern: What’s your plan?
Jerry: Right now? It’s to make sure this one right here (his girlfriend) gets the medical attention she needs and after that, after she’s well, it depends I guess what she’s going to do, what I’m going to do — figure out what I’m going to do — but I’m planning on going to Fresno, yeah.”
