Albany Bulb Residents Facing Eviction (Again)

In 1993, the local law enforcement told Albany's homeless citizens to "go down to the landfill". And, they did.

In 1999, after 7 years of having a place to call home, the residents of the Albany Bulb were evicted. After a few short months of "services" (for which the City contracted with Operation Dignity) not one resident was offered housing, nor even a shelter bed. Belongings were scattered and Homes were destroyed. And the residents of the Albany Bulb, were once again: Homeless. Unsure where they were going to live after losing their homes on the Bulb, some even felt that it would be best for their pets, if they left them behind.

Eventually, with the downturn in the economy and the lack of low-income housing in the city: Albany's homeless residents (once again) sought refuge on the Bulb. Since 2000 there has been anywhere from 1 to (as many as) 70 people (currently about 50) calling the Albany Bulb "Home".

In their time living there, the residents of the Bulb have bonded with the Landfill, making their homes out of the bricks and urbanite; they have planted fruit trees and Buckeyes; flattened and maintained trails; cleaned up long-abandoned camps; removed most of the hazards from the surface (i.e. rebar and other metal etc.); participated in shoreline cleanup; helped crews rescue oiled birds during the Cosco Busan Oil Spill; gathered up and arranged for the removal of shopping carts (without assistance from the City); and created a Freebox for found and donated clothing items.

Over the years, Bulb dwellers have enhanced the recreational value of the land exponentially. Many have developed a sense of purpose, based on their connection to their "Homes" on the Landfill. They have even built (and continue to maintain) the Albany Landfill Public Library. And, when the Albany Waterfront Committee had "volunteer days" for the Cove Enhancement Project, almost 3/4 of the volunteers were current Bulb residents.

Also, the "encampments" on the Bulb are virtually carbon neutral. In fact, Landfill residents learned (without any communication from the City) of the California Integrated Waste Management Board having repeatedly warned the City of Albany to stop the "excavation" (i.e. Landfill residents digging for scrap metal) on the Bulb, and have since virtually ceased said "excavation", of their own accord. There has even been talk about the potential for a permaculture landfill cap.

Now, after years of hard work done by Bulb residents out of love and appreciation for this land on which they live: the City of Albany is poised to cast them aside, like out-of-season farm workers.

In May of 2012, a Homeless Task Force (HTF) was assembled to advise the City Council on policy options to help the City move toward the federal goal of ending homelessness by 2020. The Task Force was to last no longer than 18 months. After 1 year of hard work on the part of the HTF (researching programs and models which other cities have put into action, to help their homeless citizens), the City Council abruptly decided that it was ready to make its own move towards ending homelessness in Albany. At the May 6th meeting of the Albany City Council, a unanimous vote was taken, moving that there would be a 3 month period of "Outreach and Engagement", to attempt to provide services to the Bulb residents; and that the Albany Police Department would start enforcing Albany's "No Camping" ordinance (in all of Albany's parks, *especially* the Albany Bulb) in October. This is nowhere near enough time to find the Albany residents living on the Bulb housing. Especially in a town that has sixteen (16) units of affordable housing (in the entire city!).

Also, the City of Albany has still made no effort to notify the "homeless" of their proposed move-out date, which many of the residents find offensive and dehumanizing. Facts about the population of the Albany Bulb: - One man has lived on the Bulb for most of the past 20 years. - A handful of people, currently living there, have done so for almost 10 years, solid. - Some of the people that lived there in '99, live there now. - Almost half of the current residents have lived there for over 4 years solid. - Few current residents have lived on the Bulb for less than 2 years. - Some current residents grew-up in Albany. Others still, were long-term Albany residents *before* moving to the Landfill. - Most Bulb residents, even if forced to leave their homes on the Bulb, desire to remain Albany residents. - Most are (by HUD definition) "chronically homeless". - Many are no longer accustomed to "city life". - Not all Bulb residents have an income, with which to be able to pay rent. - Many have pets. (22 dogs and 8 cats, in total) - Some have animals (especially cats) that have never even seen the city, let alone lived there. - Many of the residents feel at peace, living "out in nature", the thought (alone) of leaving is traumatizing. - Some have even experienced better overall health, since moving to the Bulb. Throughout (at least) the last 14 years, the City of Albany has been aware of the existence of its homeless demographic. However, since learning of the presence of this lower-income population, the City has made NO effort to provide ANY affordable housing (nor ANY services, whatsoever) to its homeless or low-income residents. Despite the fact that the City of Albany has been a subgrantee for the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, annually, since at least 2007. The City of Albany has never put any funds (federal, or otherwise) into anything that has had a positive affect on its homeless citizens. Pretending that the $1,000 to $2,000/yr. that it contributes to Alameda County's Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), and the $4,000 to $6,000/yr. that it contributes towards Alameda County's 2-1-1 hotline, are its fair contributions towards services to assist the city's homeless. Alameda County's HMIS, is an online database, into which cities are supposed to contribute information, annually. Albany has never asked its homeless citizens any questions, from which to draw the data that it is (supposedly) required to enter into the HMIS. Alameda County's 2-1-1 toll-free hotline is supposed to assist those who call by referring them to various social services, throughout Alameda County. When a homeless Albany resident calls, they are given referrals to agencies that have no room for new clients. Now, that the Sierra Club and other groups have offered to "help" Albany prepare the Bulb for State Parks management, the City has decided to evict these long-term Albany residents (without any place to put them, within the city's borders). Essentially, forcing them to (ultimately) leave town, as there is nowhere in Albany, where a homeless person can legally sleep. Surely, thrusting 50+ Americans into (literal) "homelessness", is not something that would be viewed (by HUD, or anyone with any compassion for their fellow human beings) as a positive step towards the federal goal to "end homelessness by the year 2020".