Karin Meyer has come up with a novel way to combat problems caused by homeless that don’t respect private property laws while lending a helping hand to at least one homeless person at the same time.

Meyer  who, owns Meyer’s Realty and a number of rentals, has given Manteca  homeless man Riley Tasco Vinson II a roof over his head. What Vinson is doing in exchange is staying in homes that become vacant and have yet to be rented.

The shelter is offered as long as he keeps the residence clean and is the only one at her property. All other persons are considered trespassers and will be removed by law enforcement.

So far the arrangement is working.

Meyer last year was growing frustrated with homeless who were breaking into vacant rentals and causing extensive damage while staying in them.

Vinson, who has been homeless since 2011 although he has been able to get off the street when he was able to secure jobs such as at the Hope Chest, is a prime example of homeless who are making every effort to be “good citizens” while living on the streets.

Vinson is well-groomed and well-dressed making it impossible to separate him from Manteca residents who have shelters over their heads every night.

Vinson has praise for Manteca Police who, he says, have been nothing but professional in interactions he’s had with them.

Vinson was at the first homeless summit where he made suggestions on what could be done to make life more bearable for Manteca’s homeless. His list included being able to register as homeless with an ID, lockers, anonymity, showers and cots, as well as bike registration.



Dillman’s retirement

won’t impact Not

Forgotten undertaking

Pastor Mike Dillman’s retirement June 14 from The Place of Refuge won’t impact the annual Not Forgotten Committee’s Memorial Weekend Commemoration.

If anything, Dillman said he will be able to devote more energy to the endeavor that has just marked its ninth year.

“This will allow me to devote more energy to the event so we can do it right,” said Dillman who has been the driving force for Memorial Weekend for the past nine years.

Attendance over the five-day event this year that included a replica of the Vietnam Wall easily topped 40,000 according to Dillman.

In the waning hours Monday, there were more than 3,000 people who made their way to the wall at Woodward Park from midnight Monday to its closing nine hours later.

“There were always a hundred or so people at the Wall,” Dillman noted the 67-year-old Vietnam veteran.

Dillman said his retirement will allow him  to pursue other things.

A reception is being planned in his honor on June 14.