San Diego County has inaugurated a new overnight safe parking facility in Grantville, which opened its doors on March 15, 2024. This initiative aims to provide a secure place for families and individuals experiencing homelessness to park their vehicles overnight, beginning at 17:30 and concluding by 07:30 the next morning. The site can accommodate up to 20 vehicles at a time, offering essential services to those in need.
The parking lot is county-owned and will eventually be repurposed for the construction of 300 units of affordable housing, with groundbreaking anticipated in late 2026. San Diego City Councilmember Raul Campillo emphasized the dual purpose of the site, stating, “This helps people transition out of that and into a stable place to grow their lives and their families.” He highlighted the importance of utilizing the space effectively while waiting for future housing developments.
As the facility opens, it will not only provide a safe place to sleep but also essential services for its users. Dreams for Change, a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting unhoused individuals, will manage the site. The organization plans to connect visitors with housing options, employment opportunities, and health services. Additional amenities will include access to bathrooms, dinner, and a continental breakfast.
Teresa Smith, the chief executive officer of Dreams for Change, indicated that the parking lot is expected to reach capacity within days. On the morning of the launch, Smith was joined by several local leaders, including Dijana Beck, director of the county’s Office of Homeless Solutions, and County Supervisor Joel Anderson. United States Representative Sara Jacobs also attended, reinforcing the collaborative effort to address homelessness in the community. Jacobs remarked, “Here, people have access to bathrooms and daily meals and case managers. Here, people have safety and stability and dignity and hope.”
Broader Efforts to Address Homelessness
The Grantville parking site is a crucial part of a larger strategy by San Diego County to expand emergency housing options. Similar safe parking initiatives have been launched in Spring Valley and El Cajon, which together have served over 260 individuals to date, according to Beck. Notably, approximately 52% of those utilizing the Spring Valley and El Cajon safe parking sites have successfully transitioned to permanent housing, as reported by Anderson.
In addition to these parking facilities, the county has implemented a program that uses hotels and motels as emergency housing. This initiative has enabled around 40% of participants to secure permanent housing. Beck underscored the importance of offering diverse solutions, stating, “Everyone’s journey to homelessness looks different, and their way out of homelessness also looks very different.”
The opening of the Grantville safe parking site represents a significant step forward in San Diego County’s commitment to providing immediate assistance to those experiencing homelessness. By fostering connections to essential services and housing programs, local leaders aim to create a more stable environment for vulnerable populations in the region.
