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Mystery remains as to who was responsible for installing a series of concrete barriers on roads across Southern California’s West Valley.
Some believe the concrete blocks are an effort to prevent homeless encampments and recreational vehicles (RVs) from long-term parking in the area.
Heavy, brightly colored blocks were recently installed in an industrial area of Chatsworth, just off Nordhoff Street. In other areas, large barrels containing 60 gallons of water were placed on the streets instead.
Both city officials and the mayor’s office confirmed that no fences or water bottles were installed.
Surrounding residents remain confused. Although the motive remains unclear, homeless advocates said the blocks are not a useful solution to homelessness.
But residents and nearby business owners acknowledged the fence was an effective deterrent against encampments and excessive trash.
Heavy, brightly colored concrete barriers have mysteriously been erected along roads throughout the West San Fernando Valley to prevent homeless encampments and long-term recreational vehicle parking. (KTLA) Large 60-gallon barrels filled with water were mysteriously placed on roads in the West San Fernando Valley area in an effort to prevent homeless encampments and long-term RV parking. (KTLA) Heavy, brightly colored concrete barriers have mysteriously been installed on roads in the West San Fernando Valley to prevent homeless encampments and long-term recreational vehicle parking. (KTLA) Heavy, brightly colored concrete barriers have mysteriously been installed on roads in the West San Fernando Valley to prevent homeless encampments and long-term recreational vehicle parking. (KTLA) Heavy, brightly colored concrete barriers have mysteriously been installed on roads in the West San Fernando Valley to prevent homeless encampments and long-term recreational vehicle parking. (KTLA) Heavy, brightly colored concrete barriers have mysteriously been installed on roads in the West San Fernando Valley to prevent homeless encampments and long-term recreational vehicle parking. (KTLA) Heavy, brightly colored concrete barriers have been inexplicably erected on roads in the West San Fernando Valley area to prevent homeless encampments and long-term recreational vehicle parking. (KTLA)
Pastor Kathy Hack is the CEO of About My Father’s Business Homeless Outreach, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and advocating for homeless populations.
Huck said the blocks and barrels are actually hurting people who don’t have housing.
“These barriers are not the answer,” Huck said. “I think it would be discouraging to live in an RV because there are no tent fences, but there are RV fences all over the roads in the West Valley.”
Huck said about 75 percent of the people he serves across the San Fernando Valley rely on RVs for shelter.
Many of her customers’ vehicles are at risk and are towed or destroyed every day. With these blockades in place, they are effectively displaced because they cannot find a safe place to park.
Huck said it also makes the job of homeless assistance workers more difficult because they can’t find people to help them.
“We spend money on talent search so that we can find the right people right away and take care of them until they’re in place,” Huck explained. “How are people finding customers? So this would undermine the city’s efforts to house people because we can’t house people we can’t find.”
Toby Von Bruce and Rob Lowe, a couple who live in an RV, said they have a hard time finding a safe place to stop and rest.
“I don’t think people really understand what we’re going through,” Lowe said. “They hate us here for some reason.”
“It’s getting really hard to find a place to park,” Von Brus said. “And we’re just trying our best to live our lives. I think companies have a real aversion to campers because there are people who say bad things about us. .”
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power also said it was not aware of any barriers. KTLA has contacted the Department of Transportation and is awaiting a response.
If private organizations or citizens are responsible for installing fences, their legality remains questionable.
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