Officials in Concord, Calif., have given a group of homeless people 72 hours to leave from under a highway overpass, including occupants who built a “loft” in the bridge’s support beams.
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The encampment was discovered earlier this month and photos were posted on a local Oakland-area news site, which prompted police to issue an eviction order.
According to local reports, at least two people live in the makeshift apartment. It even has a sliding window to allow light in.
“I didn’t even see them build it. It was just kind of there all of a sudden,” a man named Tony, who lives in a tent under the roadway, told KPIX.
Among the tents, sleeping bags and living quarters were piles of garbage and refuse.
Officials with Contra Costa County attempted to help occupants remove their items on Monday, but were turned away.
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Lavonna Martin, the director of Homeless Services for the county, says officials are hopeful the people living under the overpass will relocate to community shelters.
“We offer shelter beds for them to come in, out from underneath the bridge and get connected to services,” Martin said. “For those who don’t, they have options to go and find other places to live, perhaps connect back to family.”
County representatives confirmed the loft will be torn down.
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