With the need for a safe place to sleep still strong in the city, Fullerton leaders have again extended a trial program that offers a secure lot for overnight parking.
The City Council recently said the program will last until at least the end of this year with the hope of it becoming more of a regional program with other cities in Orange County following suit. The coronavirus pandemic is expected to only increase the need.
The “safe parking” program provides an overnight lot as well as resources to help people dealing with housing insecurity; it is the first of its kind in the country, said Matt Foulkes, the city’s community and economic development director.
The program was initially approved by the City Council in November of 2019 for six months to end by May, but the pandemic disrupted the long term plans of the program so it was extended in response to the current situation.
“We wanted to make sure that when the program was ending we were giving them a step or a hand toward the next phase in rehousing,” Foulkes said. “This last extension that we did in August just a couple weeks ago, we were able to get CARES Act funding to pay for it.”
The cost to run the program is $15,000 a month, which goes to the onsite services including restroom and handwashing stations, access to transitional housing programs and around-the-clock security.
With the most recent extension, Pathways of Hope has taken over the program’s operations for Illumination Foundation, which had been running the program originally. The Tri-Parish Collaborative, a group of three churches in Fullerton, have also been assisting in the outreach and social services for clients utilizing the program.
The organizations help clients with any auto repairs, license and registration or insurance renewals for their cars and also provide people with gas cards if needed.
“The Tri-Parish Collaborative has been a vocal support in the community and a financial support of the actual clients that are staying in the facilities,” Foulkes said, “so it’s been a really great example of how cities, nonprofits and faith-based communities have come together to really take one aspect of homelessness and try to make a difference, which has been great.”
When the pandemic began, Pathways of Hope leaders recognized the important role the program would provide for a possible increase in people facing homelessness. Their goal is to connect clients with the correct housing intervention that will link them back, ultimately, to permanent housing.
“One of the things we try to do as quick as possible is try to do an assessment of where they’re at, what their assets and resources are that they could utilize,” said David Gillanders, executive director of Pathways of Hope.
“We have seen and expect to continue to see an uptick in people countywide that are living in their cars and need this kind of program,” Gillanders said. “I think that’s one of the reasons we’re hoping to expand it to a more regional approach across Orange County.”
With an end to eviction moratoriums imminent and employment still down, Foulkes said he hopes the Safe Parking Program will be able to help those in need in Fullerton and that it can expand to other cities.
The program is currently geared toward those living in or have strong ties to Fullerton. The parking lot can have up to 30 vehicles.
“I’m optimistic,” Gillanders said, “we’ll be able to find the partners that we’ll want to come together for this.”
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September 19, 2020 at 10:59PM
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With only more need expected, Fullerton keeps open safe parking lot for those sleeping in cars - OCRegister
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