Rohnert Park Police Address Concerns Over Growing Homeless Encampment At Park & Ride Lot

ROHNERT PARK, CA — Rohnert Park police provided an update to the community Tuesday about the growing homeless encampment in the Roberts Lake Park and Ride.

Police said many Rohnert Park residents have expressed concern over the past few weeks about the encampment and the safety and wellness of the people who live there.

CalTrans and Burlington Coat Factory cleared out encampments on their properties which resulted in several people moving elsewhere in the city to set up camps, including at the Roberts Lake Park and Ride, police said.

UPDATE: City Notifies Homeless Encampment Of Cleanup Day Next Week

Based on recent court decisions, police said, the City of Rohnert Park is "constrained in its ability to enforce existing camping prohibitions without first being able to provide adequate shelter or housing options."

The City partners with the Catholic Charities Homeless Outreach Services Team —HOST — which provides outreach services to people experiencing homelessness. HOST has been visiting the site nearly every day and is actively engaging and offering shelter, housing and other services to these individuals, police said.

However, because of recent COVID-19 outbreaks in major Sonoma County homeless shelters, the number of shelter beds available is currently limited, police said.

The city plans to clean up trash and debris on the site next week, police said.

"This would not require people to leave the site but would help ensure the health and safety of the individuals living there as well as the general community," police said.

Police also noted that the Rohnert Park City Council dedicated $1.3 million to address homelessness in the city and provide housing and services to people experiencing homelessness.

"In addition to funding these services, the City convenes the Homelessness Roundtable, which is a group of community members working together to take meaningful actions to address homelessness," police said.

Read more about the city’s response to homelessness, which includes a Homelessness Roundtableheld the first Monday of each month.