People's Park. Why many homeless people? (Berkeley: crime rate, home, dorm)

[Bianca Mora]

I've just arrived in Berkeley (Yesterday).

I live one block from the People's Park. This morning, I walked to a local coffee. While I was crossing the street, I saw a homeless man throwing trash in the air. Another homeless woman shouting while smoking, and not to forget the tons of shoes scattered in the street.

I am not here to judge, I want to know why and how did these people become homeless?

Is is safe to walk there at night? I may go back home from evening classes at Berkeley ( I know about the shuttles, but I prefer walking to taking one).

To be frank, Homeless people are everywhere here, not only in People's Park. I would like to approach some one day to conducting interviews for a local newspaper. However, I am afraid they refuse. I do not want to risk my safety as I will be living here for a year.

I lived in Washington D.C. for six months and saw some homeless people.However, almost all D.C. homeless people live in a shelter. Surprisingly, I've noticed that D.C. homeless people tend to be alone on the streets ( individualism). On the other hand, most Berkeley homeless people tend to stay with other fellows homeless.

Overall, many of them are nice. May God help them.

[Ruth4Truth]

That immediate neighborhood isn't safe at night. When walking home from campus at night, you can walk along College Avenue, then turn down your street, to your place. Also, be careful when using university facilities at night. When using women's restrooms, check under all the stalls, before using them. There have been incidents over the years, of a homeless person or others with violence in mind, hiding out in the stalls.

People's Park is owned by the University, and is one of the locations being considered for new dorm construction, to accommodate increasing enrollments.

[Hemlock140]

People's Park has been a magnet for problems since the 1960s. I remember in 1969 one of my high school teachers being gone for weeks when his National Guard unit was called in after some protests there turned violent. I wonder if that property will ever get developed, with so much opposition for so many years.

[bmw335xi]

People in the Bay Area pretend there isnt a homeless problem or a litter problem. Learn to use your imagination like most do and pretend it's no different than any other place in the country

[jade408]

Originally Posted by Bianca Mora

I've just arrived in Berkeley (Yesterday).

I live one block from the People's Park. This morning, I walked to a local coffee. While I was crossing the street, I saw a homeless man throwing trash in the air. Another homeless woman shouting while smoking, and not to forget the tons of shoes scattered in the street.

I am not here to judge, I want to know why and how did these people become homeless?

Is is safe to walk there at night? I may go back home from evening classes at Berkeley ( I know about the shuttles, but I prefer walking to taking one).

To be frank, Homeless people are everywhere here, not only in People's Park. I would like to approach some one day to conducting interviews for a local newspaper. However, I am afraid they refuse. I do not want to risk my safety as I will be living here for a year.

I lived in Washington D.C. for six months and saw some homeless people.However, almost all D.C. homeless people live in a shelter. Surprisingly, I've noticed that D.C. homeless people tend to be alone on the streets ( individualism). On the other hand, most Berkeley homeless people tend to stay with other fellows homeless.

Overall, many of them are nice. May God help them.

I don't like walking around people's park day or night. Biking is fine. You can also get a walking escort tgrough the campus services as well, it is a nice option.

Use urban common sense near there.

[Einhoernchen]

I was a UCB student in the late-90s, early-00s; my freshman dorm was Unit 2, which is very close to People's Park. Back then, everybody in our building stayed away from the place.

A good rule of thumb is to avoid using or passing through or near the park at all hours, day or night, rain or shine. The Berkeley Campus's violent/property crime rate would drop precipitously if they didn't own the land that is People's Park, or finally got to building some much-needed student housing. A ton of crime takes place there and skews the crime statistics for the rest of the Campus, making it seem as though the University is a less safe place than it actually is.

The worst area in the park is along the Haste Street (northern) side, so you should avoid walking on either sidewalk along Haste. If you walk on the Dwight Way (south) or Bowditch (east) sides of the park, its not as bad if you are using the sidewalk on the far side of the street, away from the park.

If you need to walk from Telegraph to College Avenue (or vice versa), your best bet is to use streets away from People's Park. Safest is going through the campus or Bancroft Ave, but Channing and Durant are also ok.

[Lockdev]

Originally Posted by Bianca Mora

I've just arrived in Berkeley (Yesterday).

Oh lawd. You're in for an adjustment.

I am not here to judge, I want to know why and how did these people become homeless?

Typically mental illness, drugs, or a combination of both.

Is is safe to walk there at night?

No.

To be frank, Homeless people are everywhere here, not only in People's Park.

Welcome to the Bay Area.

I would like to approach some one day to conducting interviews for a local newspaper. However, I am afraid they refuse. I do not want to risk my safety as I will be living here for a year.

Find one that isn't dancing or shaking. You'll typically find your more sane homeless people off Shattuck near Cheeseboard.

[Bianca Mora]

Thanks all for your replies!

[shooting4life]

Originally Posted by bmw335xi

People in the Bay Area pretend there isnt a homeless problem or a litter problem. Learn to use your imagination like most do and pretend it's no different than any other place in the country

It is scary how true this is. People who have only lived here think it is normal; that every place is like this.

[Natural510]

Now would be a good time for the university to bulldoze the park and build housing. Those Berkeleyians left who were there in 1969 or even care about the right of homeless to squat there at all hours is dwindling. More now who are newer residents (like yourself) or otherwise don't give a crap or are generally annoyed with the Berkeley homeless and street people