The San Diego Board of Supervisors March 12 voted unanimously, with one member absent, to spend $23.4 million in American Rescue Plan Act Funds to create sleeping cabins and a parking lot for recreational vehicles in two communities, to help with the county’s homelessness.
Officials also voted to accept $10 million in state funds for the sleeping cabins, which will cost an estimated $5 million to $6 million annually to operate.
The cabins will sleep 150 at 8534 Jamacha Road in Spring Valley, 15 miles east of San Diego, near state Route 125, on land that will be leased from the state Department of Transportation, according to officials.
In Lakeside, about 20 miles north east of San Diego, in the county’s unincorporated area, 17 parking spots for RV’s were approved. The site will cost the county around $860,000 annually to operate.
Fourth District Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe said, during the meeting, the parking site would potentially save families or individuals from entering into homelessness.
“I think for the safe parking programs in particular they really do catch people in the middle of maybe going one way or another … so those are very very important to have services available,” she said.
The parking site will sit on county-owned land at the intersection of Willow Road and Ashwood Street. A concept design posted on the county’s website shows it will additionally offer office and storage spaces and restrooms.
County officials first approved plans for emergency homeless housing in February 2022. The two new sites are part of those plans, joining a safe parking site for cars—which opened in August 2022—and another set to open in spring 2024, according to officials.
The two new sites will also have services for up to 211 people per night, according to Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer.
“For years, the county had not invested in creating new shelter space, but we’re changing that by aggressively working to address the homelessness crisis,” she said.
San Diego Supervisor Joel Anderson was absent during the meeting.
