Viral video of huge homeless encampment near UC Berkeley prompts alarm
Homeless camp has been source of fires, dead rats, and infectious disease Leptospirosis
A viral video taken by a parent recently dropping her son off at UC Berkeley prompted alarm by revealing large camping tents, trash, sleeping bags, garbage, tarps, dirty mattresses, bikes and other debris piled up in heaps and spilling out into the street for several blocks.
“I just dropped my son off at @UCBerkeley housing and as we were approaching we saw this behind his apartments,” parent Lyanne Melendez posted on social media Aug. 19.
The video, which has racked up more than 3.5 million views, depicts a long-standing homeless encampment at Eighth and Harrison streets in the city of Berkeley. While city officials and residents have battled for years to clean it up, the video prompted a new wave of headlines.
