Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Safe Parking topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
San Diego to expand safe-parking program after Rose Canyon site reports strong rehousing results
Summary
Mayor Todd Gloria announced plans to nearly double safe-parking capacity by preparing the H Barracks site for an additional ~200 vehicles and opening a bidding process for an operator after the Rose Canyon lot reported a 67% exit rate to longer-term housing.
Mayor Todd Gloria announced plans to expand San Diego's safe-parking program and highlighted outcomes at the Rose Canyon site, saying the city will prepare the H Barracks site near San Diego International Airport to add roughly 200 vehicle spaces and will open a bidding process for a social-services operator.
At the ceremony the mayor said the citywide program has served more than 5,200 people since its start, with what he characterized as higher-than-standard exit rates to longer-term housing: "To put that in perspective, these accepted standard for exits to housing from traditional shelters is 26 percent. So this is significantly higher at 38 percent." He singled out the Rose Canyon site, opened a year ago, where he said "67% of program participants have exited into more secure and long term housing solutions." These outcome figures were presented by city officials and nonprofit partners during remarks; the transcript does not include independent verification.
Michael Hopkins, CEO of Jewish Family Service of San Diego, described JFS's role operating four safe-parking programs for the city and said the Rose Canyon lot accommodates 27 participant spaces plus 12 camper trailers. "Jewish Family Service is proud to operate 4 safe parking programs for the city of San Diego," Hopkins said, and he described casework and supportive services the agency provides, including career coaching and financial-literacy programs.
Nicole Crosby, president of the Claremont Town Council, spoke for local volunteers and residents, saying initial apprehension gave way to broad community support for the program.
City officials said they will open a bidding process for an operator at the H Barracks site and will continue to evaluate additional locations as they respond to data from the annual homelessness point-in-time count. The mayor described the safe-parking program as one component of a broader homelessness strategy that also includes shelters and safe-sleeping sites.
