Rohnert Park Homeless Encampment Cleared Out, Fenced Off

ROHNERT PARK, CA — A homeless encampment at the Roberts Lake Road Park-and-Ride lot has been fenced off and there are no longer people living there, the city of Rohnert Park said in a recent update.

"To address the health and safety issues at the Roberts Lake Park and Ride lot, we closed the site to the public access today," city officials said Sunday. "The individuals who had been residing there have vacated the lot."

There were 24 people at the lot and all of them accepted a bed in a shelter through extensive collaboration with several service partners, the city said.

"The individuals who were residing at the Park and Ride have removed all of their personal belongings and the City has cleared most of the trash and debris from the site – and will finish doing so tomorrow morning. We have fenced off the lot and some of the adjoining land."

About a month ago, a homeless encampment at the park-and-ride lot grew after two other encampments in the city were cleared out. However, the city said it was constrained in its ability to enforce existing camping prohibitions without first being able to provide adequate shelter or housing options.

"We want to express our sincere appreciation to the organizations who have helped us over the last month," the city said. "This includes Catholic Charities, Rohnert Park’s Unsheltered Friends Outreach (UFO), Sonoma County Health Department, the City of Santa Rosa, the Committee on the Shelterless (COTS) in Petaluma, and the Drug Abuse and Alternatives Center."