Monterey approves overnight safe parking programs for homeless

A strong El Nino this winter has Monterey taking a closer look at its homeless population. OnTuesday night, council members passed an urgency ordinance to allow safe parking programs which give designated spots to homeless people to park and sleep overnight.

According to the Monterey County Homeless Census of 2015, more than 300 people live on the streets of Monterey. City leaders said 100 of them are women living in their cars.

“I think what people are realizing is that particularly with homeless people with their vehicles, they are often in that transitional stage between losing their home and then having to sleep out in the open,” said Kim Bui Burton, the city Community Services Director.

The One Starfish organization is the only safe parking program in Monterey County. It’s open to anybody regardless of age, gender or condition.

Right now, city leaders have approved one city-owned lot on Pacific Avenue to be used for overnight parking. It’s near the public library, a common homeless hangout.

There is a maximum of six vehicles per site between 7 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. The safe parking providerwill conduct random site visits andno drugs, alcohol or firearms are allowed.

“They do a criminal background check, you need to have an active driver’s license, you have insurance, your vehicle is operable and it’s registered,” said Bui Burton.

Still, city leaders say it’s worth it. After two homeless men died from the cold last December, Monterey hasfound new ways to reach out to the homeless.

Last month, the city handed out $28,000 to local homeless agencies. One of them is an emergency warming shelter just for youth.

“We have the capacity for up to 12 youths. It’s a first-come first-served basis. We’ll be able to provide dinner for them and also a snack the next morning,” said Shirley Millico, Safe Place Program Officer.

Even with all those resources, city leaders said shelter is always the biggest need and the hardest to find.

“We see it both as a need in the community because we have people in need but also as a way of helping people who want to have help and want to be helped get out of homelessness,” said Bui Burton.