County partners remind illegal campers to move out of Lapis Road

UPDATE 8/17/2017 5:20 p.m.:

The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office and social workers were once again on Lapis Road, just outside of Marina on Thursday. The area has become a hotbed for the homeless.

During the first outreach effort last Thursday, there were 63 recreational vehicles, trailers and cars on the one-mile roadway. This Thursday, it was approximately 40.

The multi-agency effort is an attempt to not only help those out, but remind them they have to go. Crews from Monterey County Public Works, Adult Protective Services and representatives from the VA and Veterans Transitional Center helped make one-on-one contact with the people there.

While some are refusing the help, others are taking advantage of it.

“I know that they have left this area,” said Cmdr. Joe Moses. “There has been some people that have been placed in temporary housing situations with the veterans, with the Adult Protective Services and they’re working on other cases as well.”

Public health and safety issues forced the crackdown on illegal campers. There’s been an abundance of trash and debris reported on the area, which is also popular for illegal dumping.

“You do have a lot of trash, you do have a lot of human waste, there is no electricity, there’s no power, there’s no water, there’s no sewer services so that stuff, over time, starts to collect up,” Moses said.

Three cars, a flatbed trailer and an abandoned RV were towed.

The third and final outreach will be Thursday, Aug. 24. People need to vacate the area by Aug. 31.

ORIGINAL POST:

The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office and Social Workers once again headed out to Lapis Road, just outside of Marina.

The area has become a hotbed for more than 60 homeless people who live on the one mile roadway near Highway 1.

On Thursday, authorities offered help to those illegally camping there, but also reminded them they have to be out by August 31.

KION’s Mariana Hicks will have more from the scene at 5 p.m.