City leaders give update on clearing homeless encampments near freeways

It’s been three months since the City of San Diego started near downtown freeways.

As of Tuesday, the city said it has cleaned up 184 encampments. Outreach workers have connected 43 people to shelter and 37 people to other services, according to the city. Crews have also removed 151 tons of trash and debris.

“Our goals have been to dispose of the trash and debris, to protect both those living in the encampments and the surrounding communities, and to connect people experiencing homelessness with shelter services and, ultimately, a pathway off the streets for good,” Mayor Todd Gloria said at a press conference Tuesday morning.

In July, the city signed an agreement with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) that allows city crews to go onto state property along five miles