Johnson favors a pilot program based on a concept called Safe Ground. Steve Watters, a Sacramento State anthropology graduate student studying homelessness, organized the forum. Watters explains how Safe Ground works.
They band together in their camp and they form a little self-governing process and they protect each other.
Johnson addressed directly the homeless people shuttled to the
forum.
We have a chance to have a sustainable outdoor
encampment, like all of you guys want to have.
Under the mayor's plan, Safe Ground camps would allow 60 to
100 people. They could stay for twelve, maybe eighteen months,
and the camp would have an onsite manager. Johnson says he wants a
new homeless program in place by November of next year.