Video of Homeless Encampment Near UC Berkeley Raises Safety Concerns

<p>A homeless encampment located near University of California (UC), Berkeley student housing in Berkeley, California, gained attention on social media after a parent posted a video of the scene while moving her child into an apartment.</p><p>Lyanne Melendez, a reporter for San Francisco's ABC7 News, shared the video after dropping off her son at University Village, a university-owned housing complex located in neighboring Albany.</p><p>"I just dropped my son off at @UCBerkeley housing and as we were approaching we saw this behind his apartments," Melendez wrote on social media, mentioning the city of Berkeley, the city of Albany, and Berkeley administration.</p><p>While the housing complex is within Albany city limits, the proximity to campus facilities has drawn reactions from students who encounter surrounding encampments daily.</p><p>"The [encampment] is not on University property... and we have no jurisdiction or ability to address this issue. Please contact the City of Berkeley," a UC Berkeley spokesperson stated.</p><p>John Paul Leon, a UC Berkeley student, noted that the encampment is not directly next to the main campus but acknowledged that it still raises concerns. "One of the normal things I go through every day is walking past three homeless people on my way to class," Leon said. "It's just a usual occurrence. It's something I've gotten used to, but I'm sure it's something that a lot of parents would not feel right about their children being subject to."</p><p>Leon expressed that he believes university administrators are motivated to address the issue by clearing encampments from campus property and surrounding streets while directing individuals toward resources.</p><p>Nearby business owners have also expressed frustration over conditions along the corridor. Emily Winston, founder and CEO of Berkeley-based Boichik Bagels, described the conditions around her business as resembling a "slum out of a third-world country."</p><p>"There's been feces found all over on various properties. It's been found on our property. I've had to clean it up personally before. Needles, very scary threats to staff that work in the different businesses here," Winston said. She added that the encampment sometimes occupies the "entirety of the sidewalk."</p><p>Winston, who opened her Sixth Street location in 2023, reported a decline in sales as families avoid the area. "We have this awesome patio. We say, 'Come get a bagel and watch our robots make bagels.’ It's a fun family sort of event," she said. "And strangely enough, people don't want to bring their kids around the corner from this because it's pretty scary."</p><p>Winston recounted instances where employees had to deal with unsettling encounters. "My staff had to beg someone to get out of our dumpster. They had actually gone in our dumpster and closed the lid on top of them," she said.</p><p>Winston called the corridor a "dystopian scene" and expressed regret about choosing the location, stating, "Had I known what was [going to] happen... I probably would not have signed this lease, and I would have built this elsewhere."</p><p>She urged city leaders to clear the encampment permanently, emphasizing that local businesses are struggling. "We're all paying rent, we're paying very significant fees and trying hard to make successful, thriving businesses here," she said. "And this is just, it’s rough, and it’s really exhausting, and it’s just gone on way too long."</p><p>Winston and other local businesses have joined a lawsuit against the city in 2024 over corridor conditions. She mentioned that city officials have indicated their limitations due to lawsuits challenging encampment sweeps, comparing the city's actions to temporary housekeeping.</p><p>Barry Braden, co-founder and CEO of Fieldwork Brewing Co. on Sixth Street, expressed concern about the ongoing conditions surrounding the encampment. "Fieldwork Brewing is deeply concerned about the ongoing conditions surrounding the encampment on Harrison Street and the impact they are having on our employees, our customers, neighboring businesses, and the broader community," Braden said.</p><p>Braden acknowledged the complexity of homelessness but highlighted the persistent public safety, sanitation, and access concerns. He stated that the brewery has been in contact with Berkeley officials, urging city leaders to take action.</p><p>In response to inquiries regarding local encampments, a spokesperson for the city of Berkeley outlined ongoing municipal and legal efforts to address public health and safety concerns. "The City has methodically laid out its work in the area and our efforts to comply with court orders in numerous filings with the court," the spokesperson stated.</p><p>Melendez did not immediately respond to requests for comment.</p>