On January 26th of this year, a fire erupted at the former Soilscape warehouse. This area has been home to the growing homeless population of Arcata for over 10 years. The city has been attempting to evict the residents of this area for many years while providing NOWHERE FOR THEM TO GO. Immediately after the fire, the police arrived and threatened all residents with arrest if they did not leave their camps. This is so the city can give, to our knowledge without legal due process, the warehouse to the Kinetics Lab. Ken Beidleman of the Kinetics Lab has been quoted on video saying that this situation is “tragic for them, but it’s great for us because it means we can move in sooner”. It shouldn’t have to be explained why this comment is disgusting and lacking in dignity & humanity towards these displaced unhoused people. All residents around the warehouse have left, but some have moved to the area nearby past the train tracks.
Robin & Brandy have lived in the area behind the tracks for a long time. Last week, APD came by & gave them a verbal warning that they would be arrested if they didn’t leave within 1 day, which violates laws that state a physical dated notice needs to be posted 48 hours prior to eviction. Robin & Brandy are both disabled. Robin cannot walk. Advocates have sent local government & APD accommodation requests that are American’s with Disability Act compliant under 42 US Code 12132 Discrimination. This request specified that they need to be provided with assistance moving their belongings to a new safe location & at minimum 30 days to do so. This request has been COMPLETELY IGNORED BY THE CITY & APD. When asked about these accommodations, APD says that Arcata House will assist these people. When Arcata House is asked, they confirm that they are completely full and have no leads on getting them housed.
As of right now the city says Robin & Brandy have until Wednesday February 11th to leave. Since the city is refusing to aid them, a group of kind community members have begun assisting them in packing up their belongings to make up for the failures of the city & its ILLEGAL DISCRIMINATION against them. The problem beyond them being provided NOWHERE TO GO, there is nowhere for their belongings to be moved to either. We are raising funds for storage units to temporarily house their things & additional moving costs until the city steps up and does its job. We understand times are hard for everyone but please if you have anything to spare to go towards these units this is an emergency crisis. The goal is set higher than just the cost of the units because we are not sure how long it will take for them to be aided with proper resources and we are trying to make this violent upheaval of their lives easier on them. Please donate if you can and share widely with anyone you think can help.