Homeless group demanding Sonoma County support camps out at county agency

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (KGO) -- A homeless group in Santa Rosa has taken over a parking lot owned by the Sonoma County Water Agency.

They're calling it a last resort for help from the county where a meeting with county officials recently ended.

Nobody on either side is saying if there was progress, but the nine homeless people and the five homeless advocates said they were pleased to have gained some leverage with the county.

In Santa Rosa, homeless tents pitched on county water agency property have become centerpieces in a test of wills.

"We had patience, and then nothing happened for several years, so that's why we started this," said homeless advocate Imogene Jones.

The encampment appeared Monday and it was more a means of political necessity than physical, considering that that five homeless advocates have taken up residence as well.

When asked if the gathering was an encampment or a protest, homeless advocate Caroline Epple called it fluid.

It is exactly what the Sonoma County Water Agency neither wanted nor needed behind its former administration building, which is about to go on the market for $6 million.

"They are looking to get their message out and they have chosen to use our property as their symbol," said Brad Sherwood of the Sonoma County Water Agency. "It is trespassing."

"This area was supposed to go to homeless veterans, but the deal fell through," Epple said. "What leverage we have? We have moral authority."

They're asking for water, portable toilets, showers, access to electricity and better support from the county. They also wanted a meeting with county representatives, which happened Tuesday, a private session, out in the open, that included the Water District, county health officials and supervisor Efren Carrillo.

"At this point, we just met with them. We learned about the situation this morning. As far as solutions, it's going to be part of an ongoing conversation. But I do believe the county needs an alternative solution if they are to not stay here," Carrillo said.

No one has said what that might be yet. The homeless, like Nickalena Loanfight, are in no hurry to move.

"We are not taking their property. We want to borrow their property until they can help us get a place to live," Loanfight said.