Its been more than a week since the massive homeless encampment was cleared on Highway 59 and Santa Fe in Merced. Since then more pop up tents and box shelters have been spotted around town.
During the most recent Town Hall Meetings, local officials said 1 out 10 homeless people accept services. Merced County has more services in 2019 then ever before. According to the 2018 homeless count, there is an increase in homelessness.
Merced PD deals with countless homeless/mental illness calls more than ever before.
Here’s a list of some calls that Merced Daily documented:
– February 20, 2019, a transient woman was seen bending over and pulling her pants down to her knees on the sidewalk near Del Taco.
-February 24, 2019, a transient pulling a knife on one male at Fahrens’ park was reported. According to people in the area, this same individual is known for pulling a knife out on someone on more than one occasion.
-March 3, 2019, a transient woman was seen with her pants down exposing her private parts on Main Street around 2:34 pm.
-March 3, 2019, a male was sitting in the middle of the roadway on G Street near Bear Creek.
-March 3, 2019, a man was reported laying on the train tracks near Glen Avenue in Merced.
-March 5, 2019, a man was see jumping in front of vehicles and was seen laying in the middle of the roadway. MPD noted he was 51/50.
-March 6, 2019, MPD responded to Canal Street and Main Street for a transient yelling a screaming at people while grabbing his private parts.
-March 7, 2019, a transient was in front of a local coffee shop screaming and yelling at the front entrance. MPD was called due to customers being afraid to go out the door.
-March 7, 2019, a transient was reported to be yelling and screaming at the food court of the Merced Mall.
It’s unknown at this time what local city officials have planned, but something called “Homeless Court” and possibly a new housing complex from the Merced County Rescue Mission could be on its way in the near future, but the housing complex could take years.
