Thank you for your notification.

The Alameda Police Department strives to provide quality service to all community members with respect, concern, care, dignity, and equal treatment. We are aware of the on-going complaints regarding homeless encampments and the Alameda Police Department is working closely with the City’s Community Development Department to address, understand, and act on issues involving homelessness in Alameda. Homeless, in itself, is not a crime, although we are aware of the community impacts a homeless encampment creates. The Alameda Police Department strictly adheres to legal requirements before displacing a homeless encampment and simultaneously provides community and County resources in an effort to achieve a functioning zero homeless population for Alameda. The City of Alameda’s Coalition Advancing Resources, Efforts, and Support (CARES) for Alameda’s homeless was initiated in early 2018 (formerly the Homeless Outreach Team) with the purpose of bringing together Alameda organizations with the combined goal of addressing homelessness. These groups include the Community Paramedics Program, Homeless Liaison Officer program, Community Development Department, community-based social service providers, faith-based coalitions, and the Alameda Housing Authority. In an effort to keep the Alameda community informed of the City’s efforts to address our homeless challenges, please reference the attached link. If you are reporting an emergency, or potential hazard to the community, contact our non-emergency line at 510-337-8340 or dial 911.

https://alamedaca.gov/homelesinitiatives

Thank you. While homelessness itself is not a crime, living on public property surely isn't legal. Just one look at Oakland illustrates what happens when you allow large numbers of people to live on public property. Sanitation, crime, fires, and other problems become major issues. Not to mention the inability of others to use the areas for their intended uses, such as members of the Chinese center in Oakland, or the residents of Lake Merritt. My concern is that if Alameda is seen as "tolerant" of homeless encampments, they will quickly multiply as Oakland's have, and while homeless people have rights, so do the majority of people who live, work, own homes or pay rent in Alameda. Thank you for considering this as well.

Thank you for your feedback.

Alameda Police Department