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El Cajon staff report: 1,600 people served in six months; council hears semiannual homelessness update
Summary
City staff told the El Cajon City Council the city and partners served about 1,600 individuals from July–December 2024 across outreach, shelter and encampment services; staff recommended continuing current programs and pursuing new funding.
City staff presented the semiannual homelessness report to the El Cajon City Council on Feb. 11, saying the city's combined outreach, housing, shelter and encampment-removal work served approximately 1,600 individuals during the six-month period from July through December 2024.
Senior management staff and analysts outlined three program categories: outreach, housing and shelter, and enforcement/encampments. Staff reported the following expenditures and results for the period (as presented to council): outreach approximately $161,000 (CDBG and PLHA funds) with 625 contacts and 20 moves into housing; housing and shelter approximately $192,000 (CDBG, PLHA and low/moderate-income housing asset funds) resulting in about 477 people sheltered and 51–61 placed into permanent housing (presentation included a minor numerical inconsistency staff acknowledged); and enforcement/encampment work about $105,000 (PLHA and general fund) producing 25 events, 55 cleanups and roughly 419 tons of debris removed.
Staff said the combined expenditures for the period totaled roughly $443,000 and recommended the council continue funding current programs, continue support for the East County Homeless Task Force and the city's emergency sleeping cabins, and seek new funding opportunities. Staff emphasized the city leverages funds and contracts with providers including East County Transitional Living Center (ECTLC), HomeStart, Crisis House, Salvation Army and Interfaith Shelter Network.
Councilmembers asked questions about safe parking (the county-operated safe-parking site in Spring Valley is closed temporarily for utility work), whether the county is placing non-residents into local motels, and the source of county motel voucher funding (staff said the county has used ARPA/COVID-era funds and that those sources may diminish). Councilmember Michelle Mitchell and others urged exploring safe-parking options with local churches and partners; staff said they would check with the county and send a memo.
Several councilmembers praised the "tiny cabins" program (a partnership cited by Councilmember Steve Goble and others), noting its reported success in helping participants move into permanent housing. The council did not take a formal vote on policy changes; several members verbally supported staff recommendations to continue existing programs.
