In California, a homeless crisis took a unique turn as people were discovered living in furnished caves dug into the bank of the Tuolumne River.
The caves, some as wide as 10 feet, were found 20 feet below street level and contained significant amounts of trash.
Authorities are working to clear the caves and provide resources to the former dwellers.
“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 wrote.
“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 said.
“We really don’t have a known solution on how to deal with it,” he said.
The city of Modesto plans to demolish the caves and erect barriers to prevent access.
“The City recognizes the importance of not only addressing the immediate safety risks but also working toward a comprehensive solution to permanently eliminate these caves,” the city stated.
“Our commitment is to navigate this situation with diligence, taking into account the structural safety of the surrounding areas. The safety and well-being of our community remain our top priorities, and we appreciate the understanding and cooperation of our residents during this process.”
The discovery adds to the larger issue of homelessness in California, which has the largest homeless population in the United States.
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