Caltrans spent $1.4 Million on homeless encampment cleanups—But this California site remains a risk

San Diego, California – A growing homeless encampment on Caltrans land at Oceanview Boulevard and Interstate 15 in Logan Heights is drawing increasing concern from residents, who say their repeated complaints to the city and state have gone unanswered.

The encampment, which sits near the same area devastated by floods in 2023, has steadily expanded in recent months. Residents say the camp is not only an eyesore but a safety hazard.

“These people brought bed, mattresses, couches, chairs—you name it. How did all that stuff get here?” asked Carolyn Carr, a longtime Logan Heights resident whose mother’s home was damaged by flooding last year. “They had a fire going on. You see all these trees right here. This stuff can be caught on fire. And if the winds are coming from the east, guess where it’s going? Right across this freeway, over into where we live.”

Carr said she and other neighbors have reached out to the city and Caltrans, but have seen no resolution. “Our neighborhood is being overrun by people who have nothing invested in this neighborhood whatsoever. They’re mentally ill, they’re drug addicts, and they don’t live here,” she said.

One of the encampment’s occupants, Mario Marquez, said he ended up on the streets after his family kicked him out of their home following a mental health episode. “I got kicked out of the house because I started yelling out loud to these voices. So my mom called the police, and she kicked me out,” Marquez said. “So I got no other place to live but here.”

When asked about residents’ fire concerns, Marquez responded, “Well, they shouldn’t be worried about nothing… they should be worried about these apartments, but that’s about it.”

Caltrans acknowledged the situation and said that they’re scheduling a cleanup. In a statement, the agency noted the site was previously cleaned in 2024 and that encampments on state land pose ongoing safety risks.

“Caltrans is aware of the site near Oceanview Blvd and SR-15,” a spokesperson said. “In 2024 alone, Caltrans spent $1.4 million, removed 943 encampments, and collected more than 4,600 cubic yards of debris in San Diego.”

The fire risk is not hypothetical. According to San Diego Fire Department data, about 10% of all encampment fires in 2024 occurred near freeway ramps. Of those, 86% were within 100 feet of roadways, increasing danger to infrastructure and neighborhoods.

Teresa Smith, CEO of Dreams for Change, which runs safe sleeping and parking programs across the county, echoed residents’ concerns: “We believe there are definite health and safety concerns. The fires are a great concern lately because of the dry weather and overgrowth.”

For now, Logan Heights residents wait, frustrated and fearful, for a response they feel is long overdue.