CHULA VISTA, Calif. — A homeless encampment that started off on the shoulder of the I-5 in Chula Vista has grown to several on all sides of the freeway on and off ramps.
Drivers said they reported it to Caltrans, but nothing was done until they contacted CBS 8.
This week, CBS 8 has been Working for You and covered encampments on freeways and highways in Spring Valley and now there is another report of one in Chula Vista.
As drivers exit off Interstate 5 onto Palomar Street in Chula Vista, in any direction they will see encampments on all the on and off ramps.
“I believe that this is a great embarrassment to the City of Chula Vista,” said Manuel Lopez.
He lives in Chula Vista and says for the past year, the encampments have grown which has created trash, piles of debris and hazards in the roadway.
“This does not represent what Chula Vista is all about. Chula Vista cares about their people, and this should be eliminated,” said Lopez.
He is not the only taking notice. People working nearby say they've seen and smelled human feces in the area.
“You have to do something. We are losing San Diego,” said Amir Brikho.
He is a contractor for the Arco station that’s next to the encampment and says he lives in Spring Valley and see the problems there and across the county.
“We have the finest city. We need to get our city back,” said Brikho.
Lopez says he had enough after reporting the encampment to Caltrans and not hearing back.
“This has been over a year that it started, but it has grown out of proportion. And that’s why I decided to call your guys,” said Lopez.
On Friday, while CBS 8 was checking things out at I-5 and Palomar Street, there were Caltrans crews putting up notices to vacate by Tuesday. There was also a CHP officer making contact with the people living in the encampments.
Caltrans says crews were responding to a customer service request that was made on June 18.
“I haven’t seen any action whatsoever in the last year or so, and today, I don’t know if somebody got a tip,” said Lopez.
Caltrans says since 2021 they’ve cleared more than 5,700 encampments across the state and are working on a $750 million grant to help manage the crisis.
“We need to help them. But this is, it’s not only our job. It’s the job of the state, the city. They have to find a solution,” said Brikho.
One of the men living in the encampment told CBS 8 off camera, that Chula Vista police moved them off city streets, so he migrated to the freeway on ramp.
He says he likes having his own routine and declined resources.
“Enough is enough people,” said Brikho.
Neighbors say they’ve been reporting other encampments for months and are glad that CBS 8 is working for you.
“I would just like to thank Channel 8 for getting involved in our community and making a better place for everyone to live,” said Lopez.
A spokesperson for Caltrans says it can take two weeks to work with outreach teams before removing an encampment and then a notice to vacate in 48 hours is posted at the site.
The notice also lists a phone number to claim any belongings that are left behind in a removal within 60 days.
WATCH RELATED: Caltrans removes encampment off-highway in Spring Valley