Updated Feb. 21, 12:50 p.m.
Modesto is putting up a tent city to accommodate more than 400 homeless people who've been camped out at Beard Brook Park since September.
The Outdoor Emergency Shelter will eventually have 300 tents located under the Ninth Street Bridge at Tuolumne River Regional Park. People are moving into the tents this week.
City spokesperson Thomas Reeves said the shelter will offer those camped at the park more than just housing, but he says it's only a temporary fix.
“Hand-washing stations, porta-potties, dumpsters, lighting, electricity. With this large collection of homeless individuals in this location, we also have a fantastic opportunity to make sure they are connected to the services they need to hopefully break this cycle,” he said.
Reeves said the shelter will close by December and the park will be restored as it was before.
Correction: Due to an editing error, a previous version of this story misidentified Thomas Reeves' position with the city of Modesto. He is a spokesperson.
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