Berkeley Homeless Encampment Residents Anxious After Planned Sweep Delay

City officials postponed a scheduled cleanup of the 8th and Harrison Streets encampment, leaving residents uncertain about their next steps.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Residents of a long-standing homeless encampment in Berkeley, California are on edge after city officials postponed a planned sweep of the area. The city had posted notices last week saying they would be cleaning up the encampment on Tuesday, but the cleanup was delayed on Monday. Homeless individuals living at the site, such as Thomas Parnett, are now unsure of what will happen next and fear losing their belongings if a sweep does occur.

Why it matters

This situation highlights the ongoing challenges and uncertainty faced by homeless individuals in Berkeley, as the city struggles to balance public health and safety concerns with providing adequate support and housing options. The delay in the planned sweep has left the encampment residents in a state of limbo, raising questions about the city's approach to addressing homelessness.

The details

The 8th and Harrison Streets encampment in Berkeley is one of the longest-standing homeless camps in the city. In January, city and county health officials confirmed positive tests for the potentially deadly leptospirosis disease in dogs and rats within the encampment. The city says they posted signage about the disease, removed debris, and handed out hygiene kits to residents. However, attorney Anthony Prince of the Berkeley Homeless Union argues that the city has not identified alternative locations for the homeless individuals to safely camp, as required by a court order. The city's planned sweep of the encampment has now been postponed, leaving the residents uncertain about their next steps and fearful of losing their belongings.

  • Last week, the city posted notices saying they would be cleaning up the encampment on Tuesday.
  • On Monday, the planned cleanup was delayed.

The players

Thomas Parnett

A resident of the 8th and Harrison Streets homeless encampment in Berkeley who is unsure of what will happen next and fears losing his belongings if a sweep does occur.

Anthony Prince

An attorney for the Berkeley Homeless Union who argues that the city has not identified alternative locations for the homeless individuals to safely camp, as required by a court order.

Amber Whitson

A homeless advocate who used to live at the 8th and Harrison encampment but has since moved to a more stable location.

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What they’re saying

“I have no idea.”

— Thomas Parnett, Homeless Resident (CBS News)

“Some of us have some items we'd like to keep. We can't transport them.”

— Thomas Parnett, Homeless Resident (CBS News)

“There is no city-wide camping ban. But nevertheless, the city has found numerous excuses, one after another, to break up encampments.”

— Anthony Prince, Attorney, Berkeley Homeless Union (CBS News)

“The fact of the matter is that the court ordered the city to identify at least three locations where people can go safely to camp, and they refused to identify those locations. So, we're fighting in the street.”

— Anthony Prince, Attorney, Berkeley Homeless Union (CBS News)

“This is the kind of trauma people end up with after being on the streets long enough. This whole, 'We're going to sweep you tomorrow', 'Oh, we're not going to sweep you this week'. 'Who knows when we're going to sweep you again?'”

— Amber Whitson, Homeless Advocate (CBS News)

What’s next

The Berkeley Homeless Union plans to go back to court to protect its members if the city proceeds with a sweep of the 8th and Harrison encampment without first identifying alternative safe camping locations, as required by a previous court order.

The takeaway

This situation in Berkeley highlights the ongoing challenges and uncertainty faced by homeless individuals, as cities struggle to balance public health and safety concerns with providing adequate support and housing options. The delay in the planned encampment sweep has left residents in a state of limbo, raising questions about the city's approach to addressing homelessness and the need for more comprehensive solutions that prioritize the well-being and stability of those experiencing homelessness.