BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The Shafter City Council approved adopting a new ordinance that bans sleeping or camping in public. Bakersfield also has the same law. But with homeless shelters at 95% capacity on average — where are people supposed to go?
The no public sleeping law passed with flying colors in Shafter with Council member Pete Espinoza absent.
In the most recent Point-in-Time count, a homeless census done every year by the Bakersfield-Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative, Shafter had just five unsheltered homeless individuals, an increase of two from last year.
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If the unsheltered homeless population is so small, why pass a law that targets five people?
Community Engagement manager in Shafter, Rachel Zermeno, said it has to do with sites designated for California’s High Speed Rail Project.
“Historically unhoused encampments have become an issue with some vacant California High Speed Rail properties up north, and as that project begins to look at build out through Shafter we want to be prepared to address these issues as soon as possible,” Zermeno said in a statement.
Zermeno said that some of these properties are under Shafter’s purview.
The law makes it illegal to camp or to place, erect or maintain for the purpose of camping or sleeping any tent, house trailer, motorhome, camper or any other camping facility or shelter of any kind whatsoever on any public property of this city, as well as sleeping outside on city public property.
Shafter itself does not have a homeless shelter. The closest shelters are in Bakersfield and those are at 95% capacity on average. Bakersfield passed the current version of the ordinance in 2024.
“What do you expect us to do?” said Abel Martinez, who has been homeless in Bakersfield for 18 years.
He said he’s been trying to get into shelters, but usually he can’t because they’re full.
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The no public sleeping law angers him.
“That’s not right. It’s going to create a war with the homeless, but also with God, too,” Martinez said.
The Shafter ordinance is expected to take effect 30 days from Tuesday’s adoption.
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