KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
The Santa Clarita City Council is discussing a change to the city code to prohibit camping in any public space — addressing homeless encampments — in an effort to combat the rise of homelessness.
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The City of Santa Clarita and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department have experienced an increase in calls for service to address homeless encampments since 2015, according to city documents.
“We want to keep our community safe. This is a public safety issue,” Councilmember Cameron Smyth said. “The city wants to encourage people to get off the streets and into the shelter.”
At the June 12 meeting, the City Council introduced amending Title 14 of the Santa Clarita Municipal Code, which addresses rules and regulations pertaining to activities that take place in city parks and other public places.
The Ordinance
The change prohibits any camping, meaning setting up shelters or sleeping, in a public area.
Under the changed ordinance, the City of Santa Clarita would outlaw the laying down of bedding or other camping supplies commonly used by homeless people.
Public spaces include any city parks, public sidewalks and the miles of hiking trails that run through Santa Clarita, among others, according to city documents.
The new language allows city staff and Sheriff’s deputies to address any transient or encampment related issues that may arise at existing and newly developed facilities, such as the Old Town Newhall Parking Structure, according to city officials.
See Related: Santa Clarita City Council Members Address City Homelessness
“There has been an increase in reports of homelessness in Santa Clarita,” said Smyth. “The council has created an ‘Ad-Hoc Committee’ to partner with the community.”
The changes to the ordinance are not to make homelessness illegal, city officials said, but to encourage the community of homeless people living in the city to accept help.
“The goal of the ordnance is to make sure the homeless population is aware of the local resources,” said Danny Rivas, the City of Santa Clarita’s community preservation manager. “The first point of contact is a member of city staff or (a Sheriff’s deputy) providing information for the local shelter.”
Referrals to other services, such as mental health, housing, medical, substance abuse and veterans programs, will also be provided, according to Rivas.
Santa Clarita already does outreach and education for the homeless population, but the code change makes it easier for staff and law enforcement to continue that work, according to Carrie Lujan, a spokesperson for the city.
Community Partnership
“We need to address the needs of the homeless population in our community,” said Mayor Laurene Weste. “There is a wide variety issues they may need assistance with.”
Santa Clarita was recently awarded a $50,000 grant from United Way, a nonprofit dedicated to helping homeless people, to formulate a city-specific plan to combat homelessness, according to Lujan.
“We are partnering with local nonprofits and faith-based organizations,” Lujan said. “The city has hired consultants to finalize a Santa Clarita-focused plan.”
Bridge to Home, Santa Clarita’s seasonal homeless shelter, is preparing to build the first year-round emergency shelter in the SCV, after the city donated land valued at almost a million dollars, according to city staff.
“The Measure H money is coming in, but it takes time to build a shelter,” Lujan said.
See Related: Los Angeles County Homeless Population Dips In 2018 Homeless Count
Bridge to Home is currently considered an emergency winter shelter, operating from November to March, until the year-round shelter is built.
The change in the municipal code is just one part of the multi-pronged approach the city is implementing to the homeless population get off the street, according to Lujan.
The Homeless Ad Hoc Committee of the Santa Clarita City Council was formed after an increases in the city’s homeless population last year.
The committee meets with homeless care providers, advocates, social workers and other partners to collaborate, discuss and work toward the most effective strategies for addressing homelessness in Santa Clarita.
“We need to tackle this issue from all angles,” Councilmember Bob Kellar said. “Homelessness is something the city is going to continue to work on with the community.”
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As our local Bridge to Home Shelter is closed (for overnight stays) until November, where might our homeless population sleep in the meantime? They’re homeless! I know the shelter is in the ‘process’ of being open year round; but in the meantime our area homeless are out of luck.
I know, I know… ‘Just send ‘em to Palmdale! Send them down to LA.’ Guess what… many have jobs locally. Many have family and friends helping them with the basics; so leaving SCV isn’t as straight forward as one might think. Perhaps the city should be discussing ways to get the Bridge to Home facility open now instead of waiting till November.
In my opinion, any homeless person with a regular job and/or who isn’t on drugs should get Section 8 housing. I don’t mind giving a hand up to someone like that. I’ve run out of patience with the criminal junkies, as I think most people have.