Homeless Sacramento campers get one-night reprieve

By Chelsea Phua

cphua@sacbee.com

Published: Saturday, Jul. 11, 2009 – 12:00 am

It’s a piece of empty land about the size of a city block, with some fig and oak trees and overgrown weeds.

On Friday evening, dozens of homeless campers moved into the lot off of Richards Boulevard in Sacramento, prompting a confrontation with police that was peacefully resolved when the campers were allowed to stay for the night.

“We just need a place to sleep,” said John Kraintz, a member of the newly-formed “Council of Elders” that oversees the group of about 60 homeless campers.

Since the homeless shelter at Cal Expo was closed July 1 for budgetary reasons, more than 200 homeless men, women and children were left with no legal place to reside. Kraintz said the group has been moving from campground to campground.

http://www.sacbee.com/city/story/2017932.htm