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Homelessness in Stanislaus County

Visions of the Homeless: A Cop’s View

February 15, 2019 By Eric Caine 4 Comments

One day a few weeks ago, volunteer homeless worker Jeri Lynn Matoza was watching Modesto Police Sergeant Mike Hammond cruise slowly through Beard Brook Village, Modesto’ s permitted homeless encampment. Every few yards, Hammond had to stop because someone wanted to talk. “Look at that,” said Matoza, “How often do you see homeless people voluntarily […]

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Homelessness and Poverty in Stanislaus County, Homelessness in Modesto, Homelessness in Stanislaus County

Faces of the Homeless: Alvaro

February 1, 2019 By Eric Caine Leave a Comment

“I want to work, but my hands hurt all the time. They hurt real bad,” says Alvaro Gayton, who’s been at Beard Brook Village in Modesto’s Beard Brook Park since last September. Gayton’s last job was at a Modesto Restaurant specializing in barbecue and smoked meats. “I cooked all day and washed dishes at night,” […]

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Homelessness and Poverty in Stanislaus County, Homelessness in Modesto, Homelessness in Stanislaus County

Homeless: Stanislaus County Workers Bring Christmas Spirit

December 22, 2018 By Eric Caine 3 Comments

A bevy of Stanislaus County service workers, many wearing purple T-shirts emblazoned with the motto, “Together We Rise,” brought food and comfort to the homeless encampment at Beard Brook Park Saturday, just three days before Christmas. Working off the clock, many of the workers are part of the county’s outreach effort and know village residents […]

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Beard Brook Park, Beard Brook Village, Homelessness in Modesto, Homelessness in Stanislaus County

Homeless: Time to Commit to Beard Brook Village

November 30, 2018 By Eric Caine 4 Comments

Flooded and collapsed tents at Beard Brook Village became routine as the first real storm of the season hit Modesto this week. The heavy downpour ran off the road above the tents at Beard Brook Park, cut channels along the sloping hillside, and wreaked havoc with campers ill-prepared for heavy rains. With little to no […]

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Beard Brook Village, Homelessness in Modesto, Homelessness in Stanislaus County

Homeless: Do We Really Have Enough Money?

October 11, 2018 By Eric Caine 3 Comments

Spokespeople for Stanislaus County’s “Focus on Prevention” program for the homeless have been saying for months that, “Money’s not the problem.” For people who’ve been on the ground dealing with the burgeoning homeless population, the claim just doesn’t make sense. Especially since the City of Modesto opened Beard Brook Park to campers, the extent of […]

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Homelessnes Modesto, Homelessness and Poverty in Stanislaus County, Homelessness in Stanislaus County

Homeless: Is Camping the Answer?

September 27, 2018 By Eric Caine 5 Comments

Daniel Shockley says he’s been homeless , “About four months, this time.” Shockley had been living with his girlfriend near Modesto’s Fourth Street when a breakup left him with nowhere to go but the park. “The police were real nice,” he said Thursday. “They helped me move all my stuff here. Otherwise, it would have […]

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Homelessnes Modesto, Homelessness and Poverty in Stanislaus County, Homelessness in Stanislaus County

Homeless and Mentally Ill: the Families

May 18, 2018 By Eric Caine Leave a Comment

Sadie Koch was stunned when she learned a few weeks ago that her sister, Mary Baca, is homeless. Though she hadn’t seen her in well over three years, Sadie, who lives in Escalon, thought Mary was still living in Modesto with her friend and partner Linda.* The sisters had never been particularly close, but reunited […]

Filed Under: Featured, History Tagged With: Homelessnes Modesto, Homelessness and Poverty in Stanislaus County, Homelessness in Stanislaus County, Mary Baca, Modesto homeless

No Way to Sweep Homelessness under the Rug

March 6, 2018 By Eric Caine Leave a Comment

Years after the explosion of homelessness in Stanislaus County, authorities are still trying to sweep it under the rug. No better example exists of the futility of the “Sweep them Away” policy than Beard Brook Park. Probably because it’s relatively remote and surrounded by industry rather than residences, Beard Brook has long been a favored […]

Filed Under: Featured, History Tagged With: Homelessness and Poverty in Stanislaus County, Homelessness in Modesto, Homelessness in Stanislaus County

Faces of the Homeless: Rosario, “Just Checking In”

November 11, 2017 By Eric Caine Leave a Comment

Those few Valley citizens who get to know homeless people by name always notice when they’re missing. Rosario Quintana goes missing frequently, but because she’s almost always very visible, word gets around among people who know her whenever she turns up, which could be anywhere from Riverbank to Modesto and points beyond. In the late […]

Filed Under: Featured, History Tagged With: Homelessness and Poverty in Stanislaus County, Homelessness in Modesto, Homelessness in Stanislaus County, Rosario Quintana

Homeless: Denial Still Dominates

October 13, 2017 By Eric Caine 5 Comments

One year ago, Modesto City Councilmember Kristi Ah You suggested we should allow homeless people to camp in designated areas, including places like Beard Brook Park. Today, Beard Brook Park is surrounded by a chain link fence and hundreds of Valley citizens are facing yet another winter with nowhere to go. Virtually paralyzed by the […]

Filed Under: Featured, Politics Tagged With: Homelessnes Modesto, Homelessness and Poverty in Stanislaus County, Homelessness in Stanislaus County, San Joaquin Valley homeless

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Dedicated to the memory of John Michael Flint. Contact us at thevalleycitizen@sbcglobal.net

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