County and local nonprofit report rise in vehicular homelessness; Carpinteria safe‑parking expands to 12 spaces

County and city staff on Aug. 25 presented the 2025 annual report on homelessness to the Carpinteria City Council and described trends, service delivery and local programs.

County presenters said recent systemwide progress included nearly 1,400 people moved into permanent housing in 2024 and a growth in interim shelter beds; at the same time, point‑in‑time data showed an increase in people living in vehicles. “In just one year, that number rose from 33 to 51,” a county speaker said, noting that vehicular homelessness drove a nearly 50% rise in the local count compared with the prior year.

Locally, the city’s CARP Connect and weekly lunch program serve as coordinated entry and outreach points. The New Beginnings Counseling Center described its Carpinteria safe‑parking program (opened June 29, 2023) and the April expansion to 12 spaces; staff said the program has served 47 individuals since inception and helped place 21 people into housing to date. New Beginnings highlighted barriers to housing commonly observed in Carpinteria: very low incomes (many households under 30% AMI), aging residents, disabilities and limited availability of appropriately sized units.

Council asked about enforcement and repeat encampments, and staff said the city reorganized service requests to route homeless‑related calls through code compliance and that enforcement is coordinated with the sheriff when appropriate. Staff also noted county‑level policy changes and federal/state executive orders affecting enforcement approaches.

Council received and filed the report by voice vote; no additional action was taken.