Chatsworth Residents Frustrated Over Growing Homeless Encampment

CHATSWORTH, CA -- Concerns are growing by residents and others over a homeless encampment near a Metrolink station in town that is so bad that a local TV news station is reporting that someone put up a sign calling it "Chatsworth Skid Row."

The station, located at 10040 Old Depot Plaza Rd. has attracted homeless for years, including tents and trash. But the sign was put up fairly recently before being taken down, ABC 7 is reporting.

"I love this sign because to me, this really is the Skid Row of Chatsworth. It's just horrible," resident Jill Mather told the station.

The sign, which asks people to call their county supervisor, was taken down after a few hours.

Mather and other volunteers said they've been trying to clean up the area, but that people in the encampment don't want to leave.

"I've seen people shooting up here," resident Marilyn McCormick said, according to the station. "It's unfortunate that it keeps getting worse and worse and worse."

One issue is the train station is on city property while the encampment is across a street on county property. People in the encampment have figured out how to stay here. Mather said she contacted the city and the county and said she was told it's a jurisdictional issue.

L.A. Councilmember John Lee said his office is working to resolve the jurisdiction issues, while L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath's office told the station that it's working with the county's homeless initiative program and the city to get people housed and clean the area.