Heart of Davis reports housing moves from safe‑parking pilot, seeks volunteers and grant support

Representatives from Heart of Davis reported results from a year‑long safe‑parking pilot to the Social Services Commission and asked for continued community volunteers and funding help to expand operations.

"Safe parking is a safe place for people who are living in their vehicles to park and sleep overnight so that they're not disturbed or harassed during the night," said Shoshana Zatz, president of Heart of Davis. The program provides a legal option to avoid violating the city's anti‑camping rules and connects participants to case management and local services.

Zatz and board member Alice Alderman described program practices — screening applicants, a required case‑management connection, an evening check‑in and morning check‑out, portable restroom and trash service, and an established code of conduct for volunteers and parkers. The pilot served an older cohort: staff reported an average parker age of 62. Outcomes the presenters cited: 30 people interviewed, 17 admitted into the program, 12 people later exited (including five who moved into housing), one hospitalization, and five people currently on the waiting list.

Heart of Davis said the city recently approved an ordinance that will allow expansion at host sites (the ordinance permits up to five host sites and up to eight parking spaces per site). Presenters described partnerships with Turning Point Community, Good Neighbor, UC Davis students and local case managers, and noted ancillary services such as mobile medical and veterinary visits, portable showers and gas cards distributed monthly.

Alderman described program requirements: participants must engage with case management and within 30 days obtain valid driver's license, vehicle registration and insurance. The presenters said the program is volunteer‑run with a small part‑time staffer and receives no city, state or federal funding; they are beginning grant writing and asked commissioners to help funnel volunteers and support.

The commission asked clarifying questions about household composition, referrals, and volunteer needs; Heart of Davis said each shift requires two evening and two morning volunteers and that about 35 volunteers are regular repeat volunteers. Staff said the city will transition the application and permit process to the department that manages the program and make application materials more accessible on the city website.

Next steps: Heart of Davis will seek grants and additional volunteers to open new host sites; the city will issue the updated permit and post application guidance on its website.