Maria Cristina Costañeda Costa has lived on or near the Pajaro River levee for 12 years. (Amaya Edwards — Santa Cruz Local/Catchlight Local)

Advocates and nonprofit staff worked behind the scenes for weeks leading up to the sweeps to alert the approximately 140 people who lived along the levee. But with few housing alternatives to offer them, most stayed until the sweeps started. 

“The reality is there are well over 100 people that live on the levee and there aren’t 100 open beds on either side of the river,” said Roxanne Wilson, Monterey County’s homeless services director.

Wilson spearheaded a multi-agency effort to support levee residents. She said about 55 people wanted assistance but most prefer to receive services in Santa Cruz County rather than farther south in Monterey County.

Tiny house village delays

Repeated delays on the construction of a 34-unit tiny home village at Westview Presbyterian Church in Watsonville have further complicated the rehousing process. Funded by a state “encampment resolution” grant to provide homes for those living on the Pajaro River levee, the project is now expected to open in December. Permitting issues led to increased costs, eventually slowing progress.

Wilson said the timing of the sweep was unfortunate, but the county chose not to put encampment resolution money towards temporary services for displaced people for fear of jeopardizing the tiny house project’s future success. Although the tiny village is a start in rehousing displaced people, Wilson said it won’t be enough.

“We are doing everything we can to build this tiny village, but it’s not going to be the end,” she said. “There are many other agencies that we will have to rely on because [the village] is only going to have 34 beds.” 

The flood agency’s executive director, Mark Strudley, said the work needed to happen now to ensure the levee is ready before winter storms, even with delays to the tiny home village.

He said nonprofits provided levee residents with plastic storage bins to transport their belongings. Residents were also offered free storage for up to 90 days, though no one had taken advantage of the offer as of Tuesday. Before the sweeps, Monterey County-based nonprofit Access Support Network helped residents move their belongings.

Strudley said the flood agency coordinated with the local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in case pets were abandoned. A few dogs were spotted Monday, but Strudley said it was unclear whether their owners would return for them, so the situation was being monitored.

Founded in 2021, the flood agency is a joint-powers authority between Santa Cruz and Monterey counties and oversees regional flood protection. Clearing the levee of encampments, brush and trash is a key part of its maintenance plan to prevent river clogging ahead of the rainy season. In March 2023, severe flooding of the river displaced more than 3,000 Pajaro residents — leaving some homeless.

A crew cleared the Pajaro River levee area on Wednesday Aug. 27. (Amaya Edwards — Santa Cruz Local / CatchLight Local)

Outreach ahead of the sweep

Both counties and nonprofits worked together before and during the sweep — Community Action Board, Access Support Network, the Coalition of Homeless Services Providers and Pajaro Valley Shelter Services — to connect residents with services and help with the impacts of displacement.

Mike Kittredge, Community Action Board director of homelessness and intervention services, has been at the levee throughout the week. On Monday, his team ensured residents were awake, providing coffee and reminding them of the imminent sweeps. In one instance, Kittredge said the group was called in to aid a resident who was reluctant to leave. 

Strudley said residents were given weeks of notice, first with informal “soft” warnings, and later formal notices.

Kittredge said some have moved in with friends or family, a few have found shelter beds and others are expected to relocate upriver. Some accepted offers of support by outreach teams, while others declined.

“We anticipate there will be an influx of folks who live on the levee coming into Watsonville and Pajaro,” Kittredge said. “It’s just the nature of when people are dispersed.”

Community Action Board is contracted to manage the tiny home village. Kittredge said their staff have worked with some of the levee residents for more than a year and case managers are preparing for prospective residents. 

Eligibility will be limited to people who currently live, or have recently lived, on the levee. Pets will be allowed on a case-by-case basis, and service animals allowed in accordance with the law.

Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church, who represents northern county areas including Pajaro, said the county has spent months pulling together services for displaced residents in anticipation of the sweeps. He emphasized that the operation is not a one-time cleanup, but part of a long-term strategy to secure the levee.

“We can’t have encampments on the river,” said Church, adding that regular patrols will keep encampments from returning. “It’s damaging the levee and risking the people there who are camping. We have to have that levee protected for the communities of Watsonville and Pajaro.”

Castañeda Costa, the woman who has lived on the levee for 12 years, said she wished they wouldn’t kick everyone out.

“Where do they want us to go?”

Noticias Watsonville’s Fidel. M. Soto contributed reporting.

Questions or comments? Email [email protected]. Santa Cruz Local is supported by members, major donors, sponsors and grants for the general support of our newsroom. Our news judgments are made independently and not on the basis of donor support. Learn more about Santa Cruz Local and how we are funded.