Homeless wonder where they will go as O.C. clears out massive encampments along river

Kathy Schuler, 62, left, walks with granddaughter Ashley Foster, 23, and daughter Tammy Schuler, 42, at a homeless encampment along the Santa Ana River in Anaheim.

Jacob Serrano, 39, walks back to his tent where he lives with his wife at a homeless encampment along the Santa Ana River in Anaheim.

Residents of this apartment complex have complained about the rows and rows of homeless people camped along the Santa Ana River. An estimated 500 to 1,000 live along the river and its bike trail.

“I just hope they leave us alone. There are a few of us trying to get out of here; it is not that easy,” said Tammy Schuler, 42, where she lives at a homeless encampment along the Santa Ana River in Anaheim.

Orange County sheriff’s deputies patrol a homeless encampment along the Santa Ana River in Anaheim.

Orange County sheriff’s deputies question a man while responding to a report of an individual in the flood channel with a weapon. Only a fake firearm was found along the Santa Ana River in Anaheim.

“It is a horrible thing to lose your house, but it happens. I never thought, looking over there, I would be homeless,” said Debbie Wales, 60, where she lives at a homeless encampment along the Santa Ana River in Anaheim.

Lisa Bell, 51, right, gets a hug from a friend who stopped by to visit her at the homeless encampment next to the Santa Ana River where she’s been living for four months

Beginning today, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department will start clearing the last and largest encampment near Angel Stadium in Anaheim. Officials estimate that between 500 and 1,000 people live there.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department is starting to clear the last and largest encampment of homeless people, near Angel Stadium in Anaheim.

Alison, left and Lisa Bell talk about the impending move. A friend created a small fence to help Bell feel more at home and a barrier for her own protection.

An estimated 500 to 1,000 people live along the Santa Ana river.

Deepa Vachani, right, gives out food to the homeless living along the Santa Ana River

Arthur Johnson looks out toward his items that have to cleaned up and stored along the Santa Ana River.

Volunteers give out food to homeless people along the Santa Ana River.

Ashley Foster, 23, left, and her grandmother Kathy Schuler, 61, have been living in the homeless encampment along the Santa Ana River bed for two years.