More shelters and solutions needed throughout East County
El Cajon has more shelter beds available per capita than any other city in the county, according to the City Manager, Graham Mitchell.
“Even more than San Diego,” Mitchell said over the phone.
Regional task force data shows that neighboring cities–La Mesa, Lemon Grove and Santee–have hosted homeless populations a fraction of size of El Cajon’s for almost a decade.
The biggest tally of people experiencing homelessness in the other cities was in Lemon Grove in 2017. It counted for 13.4% of the total homeless population in El Cajon that year. In the same reports, from 2017 to 2020, the city of San Diego’s total homeless population decreased by 13%.
In the same time, El Cajon’s homeless population grew by nearly 100%.
On its website, El Cajon says it has spent over $2.8 million in direct services to people experiencing homelessness, but the director of a local nonprofit wants these cities to be more active in helping people find stability.
Kelly Spoon is the development director of Dreams For Change, a host of financial and housing stability programs throughout the county of San Diego.
Spoon described how East County cities could take a more layered approach to their responses.
“They want to do stuff, but I think they get caught up too much in the red tape when you can act quicker and faster.” Spoon said over the phone. “If they’re going to be building an affordable housing structure on one property, well, we know it’s going to take them six months just to get the permiting to even break ground. So, during those six months, why not offer that as safe parking?”
In the last three years, Graham Mitchell negotiated the terms of a new deal to expand homeless aid throughout East County between the various jurisdictions. He expects it to be official by the start of Summer.
“It creates a framework where cities now can cooperate financially,” Mitchell explained. “So let’s say Lemon Grove were to build a shelter which they’re considering doing, El Cajon can give money to that shelter.
One key takeaway: it isn’t a contract, it’s more of a mission statement.
“This agreement does not obligate any city to give up money, so it’s a pretty safe document for cities to sign,” Mitchell said. “But it’s a pretty strong message that we’ll work with each other.”
Both Lemon Grove and La Mesa are thinking of opening shelters, according to their latest city council agendas and homeless action plans.
“I can’t tell you how many times I pick up the phone and it’s somebody who’s like, ‘I haven’t lost my house yet, I’m about to be evicted, I don’t know what to do.’ And all I can do is offer them a parking space.” Spoon said. “Before that next thing happens, that’s where cities, as a group, can take a bigger role.”