‘The Jungle’, Largest Slum in US Cleared of Homeless
"The Jungle", one of the largest slum in the United States for homeless in San Jose, California ,has been cleared by authorities .
The residents, numbering around 300, who mainly lived in tents and makeshift shelters were served a notice to vacate on Monday and were told that they had to leave by Thursday or face forced eviction , reports the Associated Press.
San Jose homelessness response manager Ray Bramson told AP the city officials took the decision due to increasing security issues, public health and pollution. The looming winter and low temperatures were added factors.
"We have been rehousing for the last 18 months," San Jose city spokesman David Vossbrink told AFP
About 140 people were moved to shelters, hotels and motels. Some 60 were offered rent subsidies but have yet find suitable places, he said. The city has a homeless budget of $10 million for the next three years and it is impossible to stretch the money to find shelters for all, Vossbrink said.
The high density of the encampment is a result of the Silicon Valley economics. The high tech city and the specialization of skills, affluence and rising rents out-jobbed many people who were unskilled and unable to meet the rising cost of living.
The slum was last cleared in 2012. A pastor said that the slum materialised after another one cleared outside the city. According to him, people will simply move and occupy some other place.
Municipal services, constructions workers, social service and animal protection workers all moved in Thursday to help people move. The place will be cleared and fenced in.
