Juvenile commission warns Camp Camp risks decay, urges feasibility study for reuse

The San Mateo County Juvenile Justice Commission reported on January 27 that Camp Camp — a county residential program for girls now sitting largely vacant — has unresolved safety and maintenance problems and is costing the county roughly $1.8 million a year while unused.

The commission's inspection, presented at its annual meeting, said the building previously served girls committed by the juvenile court to a three‑phase residential program but has had a steadily declining population. "If we don't have girls to enter into the program, then we are doing something right," Commissioner Joanna Rasmussen said, summarizing the change in population. She urged the county to preserve the facility rather than let it degrade.

Why it matters: commissioners said Camp Camp is a built resource that could fill current service gaps — including secure‑track housing, step‑down programming, inpatient substance‑use treatment, or transitional housing for older…