City leaders, nonprofit supporters and advocates for the homeless gather April 29 for the official opening of Oceanside’s new Safe Parking Program. (Oceanside city photo)
Oceanside officials and advocates for homeless marked the opening of the city’s Safe Parking Program in collaboration with nonprofit Dreams for Change on April 29.
The goal of the program is to provide overnight secure, service-connected parking for residents living in their vehicles. Operations actually began on Feb. 28, according to the city. Officials counted 18 households using the program as of mid-April.
According to a city news release, the program operates a monitored overnight parking lot that can accommodate up to 25 households, where they can find case management and housing services; restrooms, handwashing stations and hygiene supplies; and resources for job training, behavioral health and financial literacy. Oversized vehicles such as RVs and commercial trucks are not permitted.
Users of the program must be currently homeless Oceanside residents age 18 or older, and they must pass a safety screening, the city stated.
Dreams for Change, the city’s partner program, is a San Diego-based nonprofit founded in 2009 to support residents facing housing and economic challenges. More information is available at the Oceanside Safe Parking Program website.
Cities such as Vista, Encinitas and San Diego have opened similar safe overnight parking programs for the homeless in recent years.
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