Beginning in mid-August, a wave of violent assaults has terrorized homeless people near Modesto’s Yosemite Avenue and Riverside Drive. Most attacks occurred while people were sleeping. At least one involved assault with a large board, most likely a 2×4.
Because of their reluctance to report crimes against them, it’s difficult to assess accurately how many homeless people have been victimized at any given time. Most reports of violence are made to volunteers and outreach workers. However,
“violence against people experiencing homelessness is not new. Ample research shows just how often they are victimized. People with mental health problems are also much more likely to be victims of violence. In addition, a study of homeless women found that 48% had experienced physical violence without a weapon, 18% with a weapon, and 18% had experienced sexual violence within the past six months. In an ongoing study of homeless older adults, we found that almost 12% had experienced physical or sexual assault in the prior six months. However, when people became housed the risk of being attacked dropped by half.”
During the recent wave of violence in Modesto, at least six homeless people have been attacked, all within a few blocks of one another. One man was knocked off his bicycle and suffered severe bruises and a broken nose. Much of the violence against homeless people is perpetrated by people who are housed. Nonetheless,
“Despite such violence, instead of focusing on safety for our unhoused neighbors, the misperception that people without homes are perpetrators, rather than victims, of violence contributes to both criminalizing homelessness and dehumanizing people without housing. Exaggerated attention on rare violent incidents that individuals experiencing homelessness commit (and emphasizing their housing status) leads to policies supporting criminalization of survival behaviors—like sleeping, sitting, and living in vehicles—while doing nothing to improve safety. Criminalization diverts resources, worsens impoverishment, increases incarceration, and poses barriers to exiting homelessness.”
In Modesto and Stanislaus County, a sustained effort to break up homeless camps has left people experiencing homelessness far more vulnerable to assault. People have gathered in groups since the beginning of humankind for obvious reasons of safety and mutual aid. Because they are often the most vulnerable among us, homeless people need group safety more than most anyone else. Denying them safe ground for sleeping amounts to denying them their rights to public safety.
Split lips, broken noses and blackened eyes are only the most visible features of the ongoing exclusion of homeless people from civil society. Routinely dehumanized, depersonalized and demonized, they have become mere abstractions, lumped together into the featureless category of “them,” for whom there is neither sympathy nor the most elementary applications of social justice, most especially public safety.
A society that tolerates escalating cruelty to the poor, the ill and the disabled is a society drifting away from civilization towards Thomas Hobbes’ “state of nature,” where life is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” Many of the most vulnerable among us are already there.
People don’t seem to understand , WE ARE NOT HOME LESS *simply house less …. Home is where u make it…
The person responsible for attacking the homeless must really have a evil heart its hard enough they don’t have a place to lay their head at night then to be woken by a cowardly human attacking them has to make them feel even worse. We need homes for the people that are willing to take a step in the right direction; some people just need one person willing to give them a little help to get back on track
I totally agree. I’m a homeless single working woman and even though I sleep in my car it’s hard to get the sleep I need sometimes because of not feel safe.
So true
Perfectly said 👏
Here in Merced we have a place for homeless people who r willing to do the Right Best Thing and get help. It’s called BHRS. They give people a program and help them get a safe place to live as long as u r wanting and willing to get CLEAN AND SOBER. I myself have went to live in a treatment place. Got some recovery and today I have 88 days and I’m in service at a N/A meeting. That’s thanks to my Higher power. Today I love my life.
I couldn’t have said it better my friend. You build a house, a home is a state of mind. I live in my truck, I’m houseless. But I have turned my truck into my home.
I couldn’t have said it better. You build a house, home is a state of mind. I live in my truck, I’ve made it my home.
What is the mayor doing to resolve this in our town this is terrible and demeaning and assault is punishable by law
What is our Mayor doing about this? Well in my case, nothing. Early this past Saturday morning at approx 1:15am 2 young men attempted to assault me as I lay sleeping in the back of my truck while parked in the parking lot at Davis Park. A side window was busted out of my camper shell by one of the young tough guys when I defended myself with a bat. Not wanting to bring more negative attention to the homeless issue, I chose not to call the police. But, I did send an email to Sue, our Mayor providing her with the information as to what had happened only to receive a “Sorry to hear that. Take care, bye” response. Modesto puts on the act of caring, talks the talk of caring, but in reality can’t do anything of any consequence to help us. And there is a reason. And it’s about time the City of Modesto man up and confront that reason.
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People leave the homeless people alone. They have it so rough already. That could be you one day. And believe me God is watching. What did they do to you? And you do mean things to them while they sleep. You’re nothing but a bully. You’re not right in the head to hurt someone when there down and out. Get a life and leave them alone.
I wish this city would truly be sincere about helping the homeless. What they call helping is sending someone to the resource center which in turn supplies you with a list of houses for rent that aren’t for rent. The information is a joke and not everyone has the time and transportation to be sent on a losing goose chase (actually no one does). And as for staying in shelters that’s a joke in a half. It’s worse than the streets…..I wish these resource people would stay in one for a couple of days and afterwards see if they would still push for shelters and uf they do their job is just a job and not something done with passion.
So true
I thought it was just me
But no it is this county.
They say recently they received more funding to provide for homeless.
But nothing.
I’ve tried to get help and do the proper steps and still nothing.
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I am a homeless person and don’t qualify for any assistance because I don’t have dependent children, and I’m not a drug addict or alcoholic that needs a program.
I want to thank The Valley Citizen for their constant exposure of what is happening on our streets. It is beyond time that our county and city come together and address this issue with some ACTION. Enough already with discussion, studies, research, statistics, and stall tactics.
Ms. Solomon there is a reason why despite all the funds that Modesto has received since 2010 to assist the homeless nothing of any substance has been done to help us. I brought this up when I served as the only homeless person on the Stanislaus County Homeless Action Council and would very much like to share that with you. Frank Ploof has my contact information if you would like to discuss the issue. Bottom line is, right now the city won’t help because they can’t help. I hope to hear from you ma’am.
I do NOT believe the city of Modesto can NOT help, meaning incapable. I believe their priorities are NOT righteous.
PLEASE listen to the Modesto City Council Meetings, online or in person, when they vote on the line items, generally towards the end of meetings. Count up the amounts of money being spent on less important items. There is NOT an item needing more prioritizing than assisting the human beings wandering around the city seeking the safe refuge, Modesto will NOT provide for them. YET!
IT IS SCANDALOUS HOW HOUSELESS PEOPLE ARE BEING PASSED OVER FOR MORE FRIVOULOUS AGENDAS.
Modesto City Council and MAYOR Zwahlen are more than likely holding out AGAIN waiting to see if they really MUST provide encampment(s) to keep predatory fiends from splitting skulls wide open OR lawn mowers from crushing people alive, so Modesto can have the latest and bestest kiddie park amusement. We are teaching our children to amuse themselves despite other people dying…
If Valley Citizens have been following the drama going on in the Sacramento news to do with legal filings meant to circumvent the 9th District Court and a recent temporary ban on sweeping encampments, then you know precisely what I mean. Does something have to be done quickly for houseless people? YES, NOW!
But NOT slipping out of obligations and requirements owed fellow neighbors, NOW!
Wantabe president, Gov. Newsom has his dander up because he knows he failed to build housing to house those without houses. YET he wants it to be legal for him and all of CA to sweep aside any who dare to sit, sleep, or look idle on public property, IF there is one (1) single shelter bed in the county offered.
We know if suddenly everyone took them up on offers, there would not be enough shelter beds. This is a whole lot of hoopla going on over a feeble technicality.
Newsom desires our houseless people play gov’ts’ GAME OF MUSICAL SHELTER BEDS, despite his bad record of NOT providing ENOUGH housing throughout CA.
If a bed is available at the time offered, it is everyone’s guess how many houseless people will be vying for that one (1) bed, so as to NOT be ticketed or jailed. CEASE AND DESIST PUNISHING OUR HOUSLESS PEOPLE WHO EACH HAVE THEIR OWN REASONS NOT TO TAKE A SHELTER BED. It is disparate treatment to force innocent people to live in a shelter that looks and feels more like prison barracks, just because they have the misfortune of being part of a group involuntarily without housing. It is DISCRIMINATION. It is UNJUST.
The courts and gov’ts are debating NOW over the definition of what is “involutarily homeless.” Any one ought to know it is not righteous to ask someone to leave belongings behind, where others will help themselves, to go immediately to a shelter in case by the time that someone arrives there will still be an unclaimed shelter bed.
Are the police going to call to get a real time count of beds, at all locations, each time prior to an offer made, and, then reserve a bed in a threatened one’s name? I mean by “threatened” having been given the ultimatum: “go or else.”
I am certain the police have much more important jobs to do. Which means they will be sending threatened houseless people all over town or county, just like non-profits and social service agencies are WELL KNOWN for: handing out non-updated lists to seekers of rentals that are supposed to be available, yet are NOT. Rather than NOT handing out non-up dated lists with phone numbers NOT even working any more, and rentals that were rented out weeks earlier. GAME OF WILD GOOSE CHASE while wasting time, plus wear and tear on one’s vehicle, or busfare. Some lists only share addresses and no other contact
Let’s face it these agencies are going to collect a paycheck whether or not their lists are current, and so would the police. Noone keeping score
No one will take the time to hear the sob stories other than Valley Citizen’s readers and MoCAG.
Question is who is going to listen to readers and MoCAG? Unless many more readers and/or members join their VOICES AS ONE (1), in reply and action, this amounts to a losing battle. The city will stand idly by.
MAKE YOURSELVES KNOWN AT THE MODESTO CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AND COUNTY SUPERVISORY BOARD MEETINGS. WRITE LETTERS, EMAIL AND PHONE.
The first time you get up to speak, your heart may pound, but believe me after the first time it will be much easier. You were all born for such a time as THIS.
PEOPLES LIVES ARE DEPENDING ON YOU