Residents on this island are part of a growing trend of unhoused people flocking to the riverbed and canyons in the wake of a camping ban.
A man who goes by the name Guido uses a kyak to get across a section of the San Diego River, March 25, 2024.Waterfront property in San Diego can rent for thousands of dollars a month — and costs millions if you’re looking to buy. But on one small island, in the middle of the San Diego River, about 15 residents get their own slice of nature by paying what some call “island rent.” And here, the rent is due every day.
But the approach is not solving the problem. Every month for the past two years, more people in San Diego County have lost housing than those who manage to find it. Those who want shelterData and interviews reveal the city’s camping ban has pushed people without housing into more remote, harder to reach areas — away from the services and help they need to get back into housing.
But what makes this island so attractive, several residents said, is that “the cops don’t come around.” That’s because it’s just outside San Diego police jurisdiction.He and his partner, Sarah, moved out to the island less than a year ago to avoid contacts with police. He said he’s out of prison on parole and doesn’t want to go back. Until they find a better indoor option, Guido said this is the best place for them. Out of sight, out of mind, he said.
“I think the riverbed is an even more difficult task to clear out. I happen to know one person who is living there who loves it and will not leave it. So,” she said, sucking her teeth and chuckling, “best wishes. But thank you so much for trying.”Starbird is wet from the waist down. He had just returned to the island from a nearby food pantry, where he goes once a week to pick up staples.
There’s a common misconception that many people living in the riverbed don’t want help, said Kendall Burdett, an outreach specialist with PATH. His area of focus is the riverbed, from the ocean to Mission Trails. People remain there because interventions typically have not worked. But these are environmentally vulnerable areas that can be hazardous to health and safety. The key is striking a balance between preserving these areas, while also finding the best fit for people so they don’t want to come back, he said. For many folks living in the riverbed, they’ve been outside so long that a typical indoor congregate shelter may not work for them.
On the southwest corner of the island, surrounded by rows of tall Spanish cane, there’s a dirt path lined with bicycle rims that leads to Art’s place.It’s a tent erected in the trees, tucked away from others in what almost feels like a cul-de-sac. The outside decor represents a kind of grungy, eclectic bohemian vibe — with old bike chains and gears, playing cards, a license plate, a Honda emblem and a peace sign.
Suddenly, a semi-truck sped by on the roadway above. Almost as if the universe was snapping him back to reality. He felt it, too. “I’ve been thrown in jail seven times for what they call illegal lodging. Seven times,” Moore said. “Stay in jail for three days, see a judge and out you go.”When police ramp up enforcement efforts, it’s common for people without housing to trickle down into the riverbed and tributary canyons, said Sarah Hutmacher, chief operating officer of the. The nonprofit coordinates with the river’s many public and private landowners to advocate, collaborate and shine a light on issues impacting the river.
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