Homeless people in California were found living in dangerously-constructed riverside caves — outfitting the trash-filled dwellings with furniture and other supplies before being cleared out by police and volunteers over the weekend.
The 20-foot deep underground digs were located tucked along the Tuolumne River in Modesto, accessible by makeshift stairs carved into the hillside.
“This particular area has been plagued by vagrancy and illegal camps, which have raised concerns due to the fact that these camps were actually caves dug into the riverbanks,” the Modesto Police Department said in a statement.
During a sweep of the living quarters, 7,600 pounds of trash — filling up two trucks and a trailer — were removed, police said.
Photos from inside one of the caves obtained by CBS 13 shows a table, crates filled with supplies and even a couple of shelves with food and condiments. Another has a chair and other belongings in bins.
“We had a hard time figuring out how they got so much stuff down in there, considering how hard it was to get it up the hill and out,” Chris Guptill, a volunteer with the group Operation 9-2-99, told the outlet.
Tracy Rojas, who lives near the subterranean encampment, told CBS 13 that if the caves were to collapse, it would be “devastating.”
She said that some of the caves appeared to be fully furnished with bedding as well as drugs and other contraband.
“You can see the hooks on the wall where they had bottles and stuff hanging down,” Rojas said. “I think there needs to be more emphasis on the homeless. They are at the point where you can see they are desperate.”
Guptill said that they cleared out eight caves during the cleanup — but he presumes the residents will return, as he has moved them out before.
Police said they’re continuing to work with local services to get the homeless people out of the caves and into proper housing.
Those living in the cave camp, which is on city property, had been notified that they would be cleared out before police and volunteers moved in.
“It’s already been proven that people will dig these out, so I don’t think filling them in with any material would work,” said Guptill after the last cleanup in Nov. 2022 at the same location.
Local officials are concerned that erosion and floodwaters pose a danger for the camp residents.