Tent City growing
Ontario's homeless enclave becomes regional haven
By Andrea Bennett, Staff Writer
Article Created: 02/15/2008 09:55:59 PM PST
ONTARIO - Nobody knows the exact population of Tent City, but the area has swelled beyond expectations.
The dusty, undeveloped city-owned parcel at Cucamonga Avenue and Jefferson Street is filled with tents, campers and makeshift shelters.
"It took on a life of its own," Mayor Paul Leon said. "It didn't occur to us it would grow to this size this fast, which reflects the need."
The area, just west of L.A./Ontario International Airport, was created in July as a haven for the city's homeless.
It has grown to include 300 to 400 people from throughout the region.
"It's growing and it's growing," said Carlos Villalobos, a Tent City resident the past four months. "And I haven't seen nobody leave."
Gloria Marin and Efren Gradillas live in Ontario s Tent City just west of L.A./Ontario International Airport. City officials say the encampment has grown to become a regional destination for the homeless and that a regional approach is needed. (Photos by Mediha Fejzagic DiMartino/Staff Photographer)
Villalobos said the encampment is popular because police, for the most part, leave people there alone. Police would typically harass homeless sleeping on the streets, he said.
The city also provides water and bathrooms, and picks up trash. Churches regularly provide food, Villalobos said.
Word spread quickly after a few dozen people who lived by the Amtrak station settled in, along with up to 100 people identified as homeless by Ontario officials.
Tent City then went from a symbol of municipal humanitarianism to a testament to the shortage of resources in the area.
Some people said they initially learned about Tent City in the paper or online. Most reportedly heard about it from friends, police in other cities, or San Bernardino County parole officers.
Timothy Frazier said he arrived Thursday night to join his friend, Monroe Emmanuel Lee III. They met at the California Rehabilitation Center in Norco.
Initially, Frazier said he thought the encampment was a joke.
"I was pretty amazed. It really is like a city," said Frazier, who indicated he is from Compton, as he sat early Friday with Lee by a fire pit.
"Apparently, they need some kind of shelters out here. In L.A., there's all kinds of shelters."
Ontario was lauded by some people for giving its homeless a place to stay, rather than chasing them out of town or ignoring them.
But some Ontario residents are upset about the arrangement.
"I understand something needs to be done for these people, but I don't think the answer is Tent City," said Antoinette Hernandez, a 30-year resident. "You're just asking for sickness, violence or other problems."
City officials said they have to do something about the encampment, which has created public health and safety concerns due to its concentration of people and lack of organization.
Leon said he has met with county Supervisor Gary Ovitt and plans to have a meeting with other mayors to bring other cities into the discussion to find a solution.
"We've pledged to help in any way we can when the city figures out how it will handle things," Ovitt said. "It is an unfair burden to Ontario."
Councilman Jason Anderson said the property was always considered a temporary refuge for the homeless until the city's emergency shelter with Mercy House is up and running.
Tent City's population explosion is evidence that people are streaming in from all over the region, Anderson said.
"Certainly, there are going to be efforts to regulate who is there," he said. "People who do have residency in Ontario should be there. Otherwise, it's unfair to our own city population."
Leon said the city can't go it alone when it comes to the homeless.
"We've always been willing to accept responsibility for the homeless in Ontario, but we cannot take on the burden of all the homeless of San Bernardino County," Leon said.
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