On April 10, the City Council’s Land Use and Housing Committee unanimously approved a contract with Jewish Family Service of San Diego to implement a Safe Parking Program at H Barracks adjacent to the airport and near Liberty Station.

The issue will now be forwarded to the full City Council for final consideration at a later date.

The City’s Safe Parking Program has designated parking lots for people living out of their vehicles to safely stay overnight with services to steer them toward permanent housing. The program has been operated by JFS since 2018. It includes four City-owned locations: Rose Canyon, Aero Drive, Balboa Avenue, and Mission Valley. The City is now looking to expand to a fifth prospective City-owned site, H Barracks off Harbor Drive.

The City abandoned a previously controversial plan to convert H Barracks into a temporary, comprehensive, large-scale homelessness services shelter. Instead, they pivoted to turning H Barracks into a Safe Parking Lot for vehicle dwellers.

That action occurred after the City encountered strict public opposition from Point Loma residents who contended a homeless shelter would negatively impact businesses and schools in nearby Liberty Station, which is home to five high schools, two middle schools, and two elementary schools, all part of the San Diego Unified School District.

Sarah Jarman, director of the City’s Homelessness Strategies and Solutions Department, gave an opening presentation to the LU&H Committee on the H Barracks proposal. “The goal of the Safe Parking Program is to offer support and resources for individuals and families while they are on their pathway out of homelessness and transitioning back to housing,” she said. “The Safe Parking program provides wraparound services including basic needs assistance, case management, housing navigation services, and referrals to other supportive resources.”

In a slideshow, Jarman noted there are three alternatives for the City’s Safe Parking Program: Model 1: Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week offering recreational camper trailers for families to reside in; Model 2: Overnight only open seven days a week from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. with parking spaces for standard-sized and/or oversized vehicles; and Model 3: Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with parking spaces for standard-sized and/or oversized vehicles. The four operating Safe Parking Program sites provide 396 spaces for vehicles, in addition to space for 19 camper trailers.

During deliberations, LU&HC Committee member Raul Campillo, who moved approval of H Barracks as a Safe Parking Lot, said: “The Safe Parking Lot in District 7 has been a great success with more than half of those in it exiting into permanent housing without the use of a housing subsidy. Having this type of service for them allows them to get on their feet. When we talk about diversion (off the streets), this is a really good pathway for people to get the support they need.”

Committee chair Kent Lee of District 6 noted, “The City’s Safe Parking Program has certainly been critical for individuals experiencing homelessness. We happen to have Jewish Family Service’s main campus right in our district, and I’ve had the chance to tour with them. I’ve seen some of the improvements they’ve made in ensuring that the sites serve families in different ways, especially families with children who are attending school, and how there’s a greater need for safe parking around the entire region.”