Kathleen Hytholt doesn’t know where she’s going to go. Hytholt has been living in a makeshift shelter in the greenbelt at the corner of Sixth and T streets in Eureka for two months. She has been homeless for three years. The young people in the camp call her “Mama Kat.” Their kids call her “Grandma Kat.”
“I won’t go to the Devil’s Playground,” she said, referring to the PalCo Marsh area behind the mall where around 100 people are camped. “I won’t go to Cooper Gulch either. Bad things happen there. Evil things. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t have to be. Nobody would.”
But the Eureka Police Department is urging her, and others, to move to the north part of the PalCo marsh. While previous plans to establish a “sanctuary camp” for the city’s homeless were abandoned by the city, it appears as though an unofficial “safe place” is in fact being encouraged. A rash of recent violence among the homeless population camped in Eureka’s marshes and forested areas has prompted the agency to consolidate campers in the flat, open section north of the Bayshore Mall.
“We have had an unbelievable amount of violence in and around the homeless camps,” said Chief Andy Mills. “In the past month we’ve had four stabbings and one murder related to the homeless population. We’re doing everything we can possibly do, yet the violence continues.”
While previous police efforts have focused on “cajoling” the estimated 730 people homeless in Eureka into transitional housing, Mills said he is now directing his officers to move people to one spot that’s more accessible to police, fire and medical services. Right now, he said, there isn’t adequate housing for every person who is camping, but getting people out of the trees will allow the police to protect them more effectively. Police officers have visited the marsh and other areas of the city instructing campers to move.
“We’re moving forward,” said Mills. “We won’t take ‘no’ for answer.”
Hytholt’s camp, however, is not on city property, but a stretch of land owned by Caltrans. Betsy Totten, Caltrans’ spokesperson, confirmed the agency received multiple complaints from neighbors about people camping in the area, which is bordered by the Humboldt County Office of Education and the Eureka Community School. At a previous Eureka City Council meeting, Mills said there have been reports of prostitution in the greenbelt.
Because of the jurisdictional complications of having campers on private land, the Eureka Police Department was not able to arrest people camping there, but offered their protection of Sheriff’s Work Alternative Program inmates should they come to clean. EPD officers also served notice on Hytholt and others, giving her until 9 a.m. Friday morning to take down her tent and remove her things.
“They told me that they were going to throw away all of the garbage,” say Hytholt, who sleeps on a mattress beneath a tarp. The area around her is cluttered with a mishmash of items: food, clothes, tools, childrens toys. “But that’s not garbage, that’s my stuff.”
On Friday morning, a crew of SWAP. inmates showed up. So did Janelle Egger, a local activist who has been working with Hytholt. Egger, who described herself as “very frustrated” with the situation, said Hytholt’s physical condition makes it difficult for her to move. Hytholt was in a car accident several years ago and now suffers from arthritis, respiratory problems and a hip that spontaneously dislocates. She was at the Eureka Rehabilitation and Wellness Center for six months, and says that she was discharged without getting the physical therapy she needed because she was on MediCal.
As Egger spoke with the SWAP correctional officer, two Caltrans workers arrived to assess the scene. Maintenance workers with the Humboldt County Office of Education, who had provided a large dumpster, also arrived. The SWAP inmates drank coffee and exchanged jokes. Off the bank of Sixth Street, Hytholt’s daughter could be seen frantically putting items in plastic bags.
“I’ve been busting my ass all night, trying to get this done,” said the woman, who did not want to be named. Another man camped near Hytholt began pulling items from his own tent, including an ancient lawnmower. The SWAP crew jeered.
“Hey C.O., can we use that lawnmower?” one asked.
Then the Eureka Police Department showed up. An officer, then his sergeant, then Capt. Steven Watson, who explained that the campers had gotten “numerous advance notices” to leave. People camping on city property against police orders are now risking arrest. Watson said that these measures are for the safety of campers.
As he spoke, Hytholt sobbed. Her daughter continued to try and sort out their belongings. The SWAP crew remained on standby, drinking coffee. An RV with gawking tourists rolled slowly past. Another man, recently rehoused at the Multiple Assistance Center, came by to check in on his old camp. He pulled up his pantsleg to show off a healing scar. His leg had gotten cut and infected when he lived at the site, he said, but was improving since he moved into the Multiple Assistance Center. Hytholt said EPD’s Mobile Intervention and Services Team (MIST) has been working with her to find housing, but she doesn’t receive social security income, and doesn’t want to leave her belongings and her dog behind to go to the Eureka Rescue Mission.
By the time Totten arrived, four different agencies were on the scene, waiting for the go-ahead to move forward. Totten strode down to the camp and introduced herself to Hytholt, who was breathing fast.
“You’re going to give her a heart attack,” said her daughter.
“Can I give you a hug? Let me give you a hug.” Totten put her arms around Hytholt. The women embraced for a long moment, then Totten pulled away and put her hands on Hytholt’s cheeks.
“Look at me,” she said. “Look at me. Listen. Woman to woman, mother to mother, we’re going to figure this out.”
“They’re going to throw away my stuff,” said Hytholt.
“Listen to me, okay? We’re not going to just pick up your stuff and throw it away. But you can’t stay here. This is not safe for you.”
As Hytholt and Totten talked, the SWAP crew began making its way down the bank, picking up bags of trash left by the sidewalk and throwing them into the dumpster.
“You can’t just make people leave,” said Hytholt, “There’s a man dying down here.”
“Who?” asked Totten. “Who’s dying?”
“Him,” said Hytholt, pointing to the side of the hill where her tent was perched.
The officers looked closer. What appeared at first to be a pile of blankets on the bare ground was an elderly man, sleeping facedown in a nest of afghans, sleeping bags and tarps. Hytholt explained that he had a broken arm.
Officer Jerad Christiansen woke the man and asked him if he’d like to go to the hospital. The man said that he had already been and “they hadn’t done anything for him,” displaying his medical wristband. Christiansen helped him stand and take a drink of water. His right arm was swollen and unusable.
While Christiansen tried to convince the man to accept medical help, Totten was negotiating with Hytholt. Ultimately they resolved that she would receive a week’s grace period, enough time to gather her belongings and find a place to stay. Egger and Councilmember Kim Bergel are working with her to find housing. Other campers in the area were evicted and the area cleaned of trash. Totten reported that they threw away several dozen used needles. Hytholt and her neighbor, the man with the broken arm, both went to the nearby Open Door clinic for medical attention.
This article appears in Humboldt Then and Now.
Very sad. Where are the churches? When I was in need the Salvation Army did NOTHING to assist me. Where are the good Catholics? Where is the outrage that there are homeless and NO ONE DOES ANYTHING but offer county services that have to be PAID BACK (they force you under power of a lien). Hippycrites of Humboldt.
This is so sad ; ( if I was rich I would open a homeless shelter and help people get back on there feet. Also, I know some people have been homeless there whole life and don’t want help. I could go on and on about the pros n cons but I wont. It’s just, terrible.
Great article, thanks for coming by and talking to everyone. Here are a couple of bits and pieces you may not have heard:
This was the notice: Some time ago an officer came by and told her it was private property; it is public property. Where Momma Kat lives is Caltrans the higher ground may be County of Education property. Then a very nice officer came by and told them about an ordinance that passed that they had to take down tents during the day and in addition to a tent could only have what would fit in a trash can. Of course that ordinance has not passed. Then a “bad cop” came by and forcefully told them to get out. Then on Wednesday on officer came by. After walking past the pile of bags of trash collected after I made a casual comment that it would be nice if there was less trash around, he commented on the trash, Kat informed him that trash was the last of the syrup that hadn’t yet been put away from breakfast. They then talked about her having to leave.
That was Thursday, which I spent trying to figure out who to talk to about this. I talked to EPD, City staff, Caltrans, Sheriff’s office and County Office of Education. EPD claimed they simple received a phone call. Caltrans, City staff, Sheriff’s Office knew nothing. Finally a call to the owner of the dumpster brought County Office of Education into the picture. I was told the dumpster was for a clean up at the County Office (on Myrtle). I went to bed hoping the dumpster had been misplaced.
And a bit of sick humor: After telling me of their concern, that this wasn’t a safe or healthy spot for homeless to camp the Caltrans told me there was good news, the land for sale so if I knew of anyone who wanted to help…
I was told that if I took Mamma Kat to the Open Door clinic they could fast track her into the MAC. The man asked for some food so he went as far as McDonalds where his request for two double cheeseburgers and a tall coke was granted. By the time we got to Open Door it was closed for lunch; I found someone who would have appreciated if I had been given a last name, but thought he knew who Kat needed to see.
While we waited outside an old friend came by and we had a lovely chat until Kat got a call that she should return because people were in her stuff. Momma Kat was inconsolable. We returned to be greeted by the Sheriff’s Deputy informing us that for our protection we would need to wait there until the SWAP crew finished. I again asked if they could save this area for next week and Kat returned to her camp.
Before leaving town Kat had a chance to go by the store, the man who was stabbed four times was dropped off at the pharmacy to see if medical would pay for his prescriptions and I returned to Open Door where I was told they did not know who had referred me there, but they could not help her get in the MAC.
I left a phone message today for Kat that her son who has missing had been seen, not with the person she was concerned about, and that his picture had been given to someone who could share it.
It’s a nice story to make you feel sorry for those that are homeless so you will put up with their drugs, violence and filth, which are the biggest problem with the homeless. I think I would be more supportive, if they were not hitting you up every time you come near one, that they didnt poop and pee on ground that drains into the bay, that they didnt destroy everything that is given to them to help with the filth and that they were trying to get out of their life of addiction.. but you see I worked with these type of folks for 30 years and they dont want to change their life. They will tell you whatever you want to hear to get what they want, which is continuing their addiction. That addiction is the strongest thing in their life. In order to change that you have to make survival a stronger need than the addiction otherwise your enabling and these empathetic stories dont help them. In the end those that want to get out of addiction will on their own because of their own motivation to survive and those that dont, will die a young death from addiction and there is NOTHING you can do that is going to change that. Give them a place to shelter up and food and your just giving them hope that they can survive with their their addiction. If you really want to help a homeless person, take one or two home with you. You will find in the beginning they will tell you what you want to hear about cleaning up and getting a job ..getting out of this situation.. what you will find, is they will continue to do their drugs and alcohol, invite friends over that you didnt invite into your home, do their addiction in plain sight of your family, not clean up after themselves and keep giving you lip service until you get so frustrated you try to toss them out.. then who knows what kind of violence you will see. Foolish foolish behavior. And if you think that was just “well one of them” try a few more and see if the outcome is any different. The general public does not want to support or deal with them nor have them effect their businesses. So it’s “public” land and the public is the landlord, which means they should be removed. You want to help someone, helps someone that you might have a chance in making their life better, like a senior living off $900 a month, resettling a domestic violence person, a child in foster care that needs a forever home. That help would make a huge difference to people who do not have a negative impact on the community.
“It’s a nice story to make you feel sorry for those that are homeless so you will put up with their drugs, violence and filth, which are the biggest problem with the homeless. I think I would be more supportive, if they were not hitting you up every time you come near one, that they didnt poop and pee on ground that drains into the bay, that they didnt destroy everything that is given to them to help with the filth and that they were trying to get out of their life of addiction..”
With what resources and access are they supposed to solve any of these problems for themselves?
What, pray tell, is being ‘given to them to help’ that they are making filthy?
As the media shows you every day, those with seemingly endless resources struggle with helping their loved ones to get clean of substance abuse. How do you expect people to somehow do so without support, or security, or money of any kind?
It is quite clear from your post that to you, these people’s very existence is a negative impact on the community. Yet they exist. They are already in the hole, according to you and a disturbing number of people in this country, and you stand up there on the surface, clucking your tongues at them for being so low and dirty that you are disinclined to reach out and help pull them up.
But for the grace of god goes any one of us. There is a book called TENT CITY PRINCESS by Lynn Anns which is a fiction story built on interviews with the homeless population. Everyone should read it – and understand that it takes a lot less than you think to end up living out of a tent.
Not everyone chooses to be homeless. Circumstances beyond their control do come about. 8 years ago I found myself and our family homeless all of a sudden because the house we were renting had been sold without our knowledge. New owner came by with 72 hour notice. I wasn’t on drugs or a drinker. I was a stay at home mom, now terrified. How was I to keep my babies safe and warm in middle of winter. What little money I had bought a ran down, overused rv just to keep my kids safe. I wouldn’t wish homelessness on anyone, it is devastating. I am still living in an rv but now it’s just a bigger one, that I worked hard to buy. NO, not every homeless person wants to be homeless!! Some maybe but definitely not all. Clydeine one day KARMA will find your nasty self and take care of your bitter heart. Hopefully sooner rather than later
Dear Clydeine Oglesby:
You are an arrogant hypocrite. Just to let you know, two of my roommates were homeless before they moved in with me, so you can just come down off of your “all homeless are hopeless addicts” high horse. What have you done to help the problem? Or are you just another NIMBY who sees fit to pass judgement on others? I also help support my elderly mother, too.
Not all homeless people are addicts, and not all addicts are hopeless. The fact that you see fit to spout off in unknowing judgement of all of them makes me think that you’ve never even tried to help.
Homeless people are often poor, elderly, disabled (physically, mentally or both), and many actually work. The fact is, we have two vacant houses in this country for every homeless person.
I suggest you educate yourself about homelessness in California: Start at http://www.wraphome.org
I studied Chemical addictions in the 1990’s as a result of my husband dying and my own life addictions and family members alcoholism, etc. I was particularly interested in the history of addiction to Methamphetamine and Heroin and also the criminalization of Cannabis. What I found out changed my whole approach to poor people and the plight of the addict. Since WW2 and especially Vietnam the use of drugs has exploded because there are more drugs in the country. Why is that you ask? Because our government has gone into all the world and gained control of these chemicals and uses the Black Market to fund it’s secret missions. The addict is just a cog in the wheel of the machine that means to control the whole world. Ask yourself why the War on Drugs has not eradicated drugs from our streets. Study the phenomenon and then quit treating poor people like dirt! Poverty and addiction is a red light blinking on and off at us everyday telling us to stop what WE as a country are doing to our own people. Punishing addicts for being addicted is like punishing a child for not being grown up….it’s counter productive. Housing First! has proven that when an addict is placed in housing with a worker that comes by and helps them pay their bills and keep nourishing food in the place will after 1 year most likely than not be healthier and drug free or at least using less. Get an education folks and quit being so mean! Another note to this whole subject of homelessness; most if not all have been severely abused in one form or another. They need compassion, NOT you further abusing them!!!
Human beings, like it or not, are dependent upon each other. Our children, our elderly, our sick, and our downtridden are arguably the most needy of all. And not unlike aa long steel chain, each of us are linked to one another. Our chain, particularly here in America, has been long and strong. Our morals, small town mentality, coupled with better economic times, resulted more time, patience, alternatives and love for the above-mentioned challenged.
Our chain, now under great threat of breaking, is only as strong as our weakest links. Therefore labeling, diminishing, generalizing, and blaming these links is a futile endeavor other than to further weaken the chain that is essentially “Us”. Addiction, poverty, and the many other possible drivers that have resulted in too many of our kind to become and remain homeless, are by-products of our dysfunctional society, and not in themselves the catalyst for their plight.
We must work together to love and protect all in our chain. To do this we must put aside our propensity to look down at our brother and sisters for allowing their demise. We must understand their plight is our own. To do this we must unmount our all-too-lavish steeds, and extend our hands, listen, learn and love each other..
Peace out.
Rob Norman