Homeless Communities Found Living in Underground Caves in California

Safety concerns rise as cleanup efforts struggle to address persistent encampments along riverbanks.

Homeless communities in California have been found living in underground caves along the Tuolumne River in Modesto and the Stanislaus River in Riverbank.
Local residents and officials have expressed concerns about the safety hazards these encampments pose, including potential cave collapses and pollution of the rivers.
Efforts to clean up these areas have been largely unsuccessful, with homeless individuals returning to the sites soon after being removed.
During a cleanup operation in Modesto, volunteers and police removed 7,600 pounds of trash, including personal belongings, drugs, and weapons.
The city of Modesto has implemented immediate safety measures, including barricades and temporary fencing, and is working towards a comprehensive solution to permanently eliminate these caves.