By Kelly Chiaroni
Homelessness in the state of California is an important issue that needs to be further addressed by government leaders and social service organizations. The federal government defines homelessness as a person who lacks a regular, adequate nighttime residence or having a residence that is a temporary private or publically funded shelter, an institution that provides temporary residence and a public or private place not typically used for sleeping (Pub. L. 113-100).
The state of California alone accounted for 22 percent of the United States homeless population in 2013 (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2013). There were 136,826 homeless people in California in January of 2013 (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2013). Not only is California’s homeless population currently high, it increased from 2012 to 2013 by 5,928 people (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2013). Los Angeles County houses the majority of the homeless population in California, at 53,798 (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2013).
In 2010, it was estimated that 10 percent of the homeless population in Los Angeles owned a vehicle (O’Leary, 2010). However, anti-camping ordinances throughout the state of California make it illegal for people to sleep in their cars (League of California Cities, 2013). Specifically, anti-camping ordinances make it against the law for a person to sit, sleep, or lie down on public property (League of California Cities, 2013). If caught sleeping in their vehicle, homeless people face hefty fines or the threat of arrest. Where are people to turn when their own source of shelter is considered an illegal place to sleep?
Fortunately, four counties (Santa Barbara, San Diego, San Luis Obispo and Sonoma) have recently taken it upon themselves to implement safe parking programs, which enable homeless people with a vehicle to park safely overnight and obtain necessary services. Community nonprofits collaborate with the city to locate an appropriate location (fairgrounds parking lot, church parking lots) and workers from these community agencies oversee the actual implementation of the ordinance. This includes enforcing the rules and case management services—such as locating affordable housing—to program participants.
Santa Barbara County was one of the first counties in California to implement a safe parking program for homeless people in 2004 (Tietz, 2012). The program, run by New Beginnings Counseling Center, provides a safe place for people to sleep in addition to case management and outreach services to help people obtain permanent housing and employment (Tietz, 2012). From 2010 to 2011, the program served more than 800 individuals (Tietz, 2012).
In San Luis Obispo, the safe parking program has been in place since March 2012 through the Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County (Cornejo, 2013). Through this program, not only are homeless people able to sleep safely in their cars, services are also offered to help people get into permanent housing and off the streets (Cornejo, 2013). In the seven months since the program had been launched, six people were now living in permanent housing, thirteen people were enrolled in a housing program, and three people were on a waitlist for housing (Cornejo, 2013).
In San Diego County, Dreams for Change is an agency that has since April 2010 provided a safe parking program and case management services to people living in their vehicles overnight (Dreams for Change, 2011). While in this program, people are enrolled for public housing benefits if they qualify; they also receive financial education classes and financial counseling, and emergency items such as water, clothing and food are provided (Dreams for Change, 2011). In the program’s first nine months, 163 vehicles used the parking lot. Of those 163 vehicles, 99 participated in the programs offered (Dreams for Change, 2011). Seventy-six percent obtained permanent housing, 22 percent obtained employment, and 7 percent started school/training (Dreams for Change, 2011).
In Sonoma County, the program is relatively new, started by Catholic Charities in the city of Santa Rosa in January 2014 (Romney, 2014). In the two months since the program was implemented, 130 vehicles used the services (Romney, 2014). Case management services to locate housing and basic needs including water and food were provided to program participants (Romney, 2014). Since the program is relatively new, data on how many people have found permanent housing or employment are not yet available.
The implementation of safe parking programs in these four counties shows California that more can be done to help alleviate the issues faced by the state’s homeless population. With Section 8 and low-income housing waiting lists ears long, many homeless people often have nowhere to turn. Safe parking programs are an essential first step in addressing California’s increasing homeless population. The criminalization of homeless people through anti-camping ordinances needs to end and safe parking programs need to be implemented throughout the state.
Kelly Chiaroni is an MSW student at California State University, Long Beach and can be reached at kelly.chiaroni@gmail.com.
References
Cornejo, A. (2013, September 4). “SLO’s safe parking program for homeless to be expanded.” The Tribune. Retrieved from http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2013/09/04/2666671/safe-parking-program-homeless.html.
Dreams for Change (2011). Safe parking program 2010 report. Retrieved from http://www.dreamsforchange.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Safe-Parking-Annual-2010.pdf.
General definition of homeless individual, pub. L. No. 113-100, 42 Stat. 11302 (1873).
League of California Cities (2013). Enforcement of aggressive panhandling, camping and sleeping ordinances [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from http://www.cacities.org/Resources-Documents/Member-Engagement/Professional-Departments/City-Attorneys/Library/2013/2013-Annual-Conference-City-Attorneys-Track/9-2013-Annual-Marco-Martinez-Christine-Dietric-%281%29.aspx.
O’Leary, K. (2010, February 12). “Last refuge for the homeless: Living in their car.” Los Angeles Times. Retrieved from http://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1963454,00.html.
Romney, L. (2014, March 8). “In Sonoma County, a heartwarming safe parking program for the homeless.” Los Angeles Times. Retrieved from http://articles.latimes.com/2014/mar/08/local/la-me-santa-rosa-homeless-parking-20140309.
Tietz, J. (2012). “The sharp, sudden decline of America’s middle class.” Rolling Stone Magazine. Retrieved from http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/the-sharp-sudden-decline-of-americas-middle-class-20120622.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (2013). The 2013 annual homeless assessment report (AHAR) to Congress. Retrieved from https://www.onecpd.info/resources/documents/ahar-2013-part1.pdf.
