Updated Aug. 9, 5:26 p.m.:
A judge on Friday denied a request for an injunction preventing the city of Sacramento from closing Camp Resolution.
Sacramento County Judge Jill Talley ruled that the roughly 50 residents don’t face immediate harm after the lease for the property ends on Saturday.
According to the lease, Safe Ground Sacramento has about two weeks to clear the property.
Original story, published Aug. 7:
Residents of a self-governed homeless encampment on Wednesday declared they plan to stay at a lot owned by the city of Sacramento whether or not a judge and nonprofit organization grant their requests.
A county judge on Friday is set to hold a hearing on their application for a preliminary injunction preventing the city from closing Camp Resolution until all residents get permanent housing.
Attorney Anthony Prince represents the residents and the Sacramento Homeless Union. He urged the nonprofit Safe Ground Sacramento to rescind its notice to end the lease for the property effective Aug. 10.
Safe Ground has leased the lot on Arden Way and Colfax Street on behalf of the residents since April 2023. A land use variance allows people to live in vehicles on paved areas of the site, but prohibits tent camping because of contaminated soil. Mark Merin, chair of the nonprofit’s board, told the city in a July 23 letter it’s ending the lease because it can’t fulfill obligations such as getting required liability insurance.
Satearah Murphy, a co-founder and member of the camp’s resident council, said the city and Safe Ground should work together to ensure they have portable restrooms as well as electricity and water hookups.
“Know that we gonna stand our ground,” Murphy said. “Know that we gonna fight regardless of what y’all do. Know that we not opening this gate for nobody because we don’t trust none of them.”
In an emailed statement, city spokesperson Tim Swanson said the lease requires Safe Ground to “peaceably vacate the premises” when the agreement ends. He added the city continues to urge Safe Ground to work with the residents.
But in a July 31 email included in a court filing for an injunction, Merin told Prince that Safe Ground won’t remove residents or tell them to vacate the property. Reached by phone on Wednesday, Merin declined to comment on Camp Resolution’s request to rescind the lease termination other than saying it’s a complicated issue that’s still unfolding.
Sharon Jones, another co-founder of the camp, said she doesn’t know where the city expects the about 50 residents to go. Jones also raised concerns over how the city began delivering water to the camp, but not other encampments, last month.
“That singles us out and makes us targets for retaliation,” Jones said. “They don’t see that and they’ve put us all in danger.”
Camp Resolution in Sacramento on Aug. 7, 2024.Kristin Lam/CapRadio
Swanson said the city continues to offer shelter spots to people living at Camp Resolution.
“Since Camp Resolution’s inception, advocates for the people staying there have largely refused to allow social service workers to enter the site and connect people with available resources, including connection to more suitable and sustainable housing,” Swanson said in the statement. “In addition, the City for months has offered multiple shelter opportunities, including spots at the Roseville Road campus, the Outreach and Engagement Center and in the City’s motel program.”
Prince has argued the lease continues until all residents obtain permanent housing, not temporary shelter, since filing a lawsuit against the city in May over previous plans to close the camp. Whether or not the county judge grants the request for a preliminary injunction on Friday, Prince said Camp Resolution plans to continue the lawsuit.
Also on Friday, the city is scheduled to visit Camp Resolution for another safety inspection. The fire department declared the camp a fire hazard after a July 25 inspection, determining the arrangement of cars, RVs and tents make it difficult for first responders to get in and out for emergencies.
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