Many homeless people have gathered near the railroad tracksoutside of the community assistance center Monday, Nov. 2, 2009.
(Provided to the Reno Gazette-Journal)
Reno, Nevada - November 3, 2009 - Homeless people set up a small tent city Monday evening along the railroad tracks across from the homeless services center on Record Street in Reno, despite requests earlier in the day from city officials and railroad police for them to move.
By sundown around 5 p.m., sleeping bags and other personal belongings were already set up in a dirt area in front of St. Vincent's dining hall. The scene played out after city officials said no designated place exists for people to camp on the grounds of the Community Assistance Center.
On Sunday night, about 35-40 people were routed from a small triangular fenced area that had served as an outdoor overflow shelter since June.
That night, 29 men took the city up on its offer to be transported to the men's winter overflow shelter on Edison Way, which opened that night, said Jodi Royal-Goodwin, the city's community re-investment manager. Space existed for 46 more. Room also was in place for 12 more in the women's shelter and alternative arrangements could have been made for families, she said.
A number of others have been living on the Union Pacific railroad's right-of-way, along the tracks that run through the middle of the campus and then head north of town. Railroad police warned them to leave Monday morning, saying tickets would be issued, Royal-Goodwin said.
The railroad doesn't want people close to the tracks, Royal-Goodwin said. If a blanket blew over the tracks, trains would have to try to stop in case someone was underneath, she said.
As a result, people had moved piles of belongings from along the tracks to the day area of the homeless campus Monday morning.
"The people along the tracks have come back, so essentially, they are trespassing," Royal-Goodwin said Monday evening.
Ray Trevino, manager of St. Vincent's Dining Room, has counted about 130 people sleeping along the tracks. FULL STORY
