REDDING, Calif. - The number of homeless people living in Shasta County in 2019 is 827 which is nearly a 20% jump from last year's count of 692, according to statistics.
The Redding City Council approved a letter sent to Gov. Newsom. In the letter, Redding Mayor Julie Winter, calls on the state to declare a state of emergency over the homelessness crisis.
In the letter, the mayor said that Redding faces a major homelessness problem with many camping along the Sacramento River and polluting the area which is why she would like to estabish a shelter.
The mayor also asked for the ability to enforce illegal camping ordinances as part of her declaration.
Action News Now spoke to the director of a homeless shelter in Redding, Jonathan Anderson, and he said that the city doesn't have a homeless issue.
"I think we have a crime crisis in our community and another shelter doesn't help the criminal problem," said Anderson." We need an additional 300 jail beds in our community where people who are committing crimes can be held accountable. I really think that's what the community is concerned about."
The city said that it's seen an increase in the amount of homeless camps in the past few years. Whether a shelter will be established, remains to be seen.
