The long-promised H Barracks site has arrived.
A 190-space Safe Parking Program site was recently opened by the city of San Diego at H Barracks, offering vehicle dwellers services to help them avert homelessness.
The Safe Parking Program provides individuals, seniors, and families a secure place to stay while accessing services and pursuing housing. Sites include restrooms, mental health services, and job training, and participants work with case managers to create individual housing goals.
A judge ruled recently in the city’s favor — and against a developer’s request — for a temporary restraining order that would have prevented the swift opening of the H Barracks Safe Parking Program, which is operated by Jewish Family Service of San Diego.
“This is a win for all San Diegans as it clears the way for the use of city-owned land near the airport for people living in vehicles to come off the streets to safety and get connected to the services that will help end their homelessness,” San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said after the ruling.
“The majority of people served in our Safe Parking Program have incomes, are employed, or have only recently entered homelessness. The Safe Parking Program ensures we intervene early and provide stabilization so people can get back on their feet — and that’s what this new site at H Barracks will do for 190 individuals or families experiencing homelessness.
“Not only is Safe Parking our most successful homelessness intervention, it also addresses the region’s fastest-growing segment of unhoused people.”
The H Barracks lot will have onsite security during operating hours and can accommodate oversized vehicles, such as RVs. The lot can be open through 2029, until construction for a San Diego Pure Water treatment facility begins.
Now that the city’s fifth safe parking site is open and gradually ramping up, efforts are underway to let the public know about it.
“The San Diego Police Department’s Neighborhood Policing Division has been focusing on outreach to those living in their vehicles to let them know about this new opportunity for oversized vehicles,” said Matt Hoffman, the city’s media services coordinator.
“Outreach remains the focus for now, but with more spaces available, it does allow for more enforcement, specifically of the Oversized Vehicle Ordinance.”
According to recent data, the number of San Diegans sleeping in their cars across San Diego County increased by 44% compared to the previous year, underscoring the need for additional overnight safe parking options.
“The Safe Parking Program has proven to be one of the city’s most successful homelessness programs, helping many participants find permanent housing and access the services and support they need to get back on their feet,” said District 2 City Councilmember Dr. Jennifer Campbell, who represents Point Loma and Ocean Beach.
The city previously abandoned a controversial plan that would have converted H Barracks — formerly used for police and fire department training — into a comprehensive, large-scale homelessness services shelter, pivoting instead to turning the site into a Safe Parking lot following blowback from residents contending a homeless shelter there would threaten the safety of businesses and several schools nearby in Liberty Station.
Peninsula activists Margaret Virissimo and Derek Falconer said Safe Parking, though a more palatable option than a homeless shelter, is nonetheless concerning and a situation the community continues to monitor closely.
“We have not seen many cars parked in that lot,” said Falconer, noting the new lot is only open from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. He asked, “Where are people going to go during the other 11 hours of the day?”
“They said they already have 90-something reserved spots in H Barracks,” said Virissimo. “Where are those reservations?”
Meanwhile, Falconer pointed out that the city has proposed closing an existing homeless shelter off Rosecrans St. in the Midway District.
“That is frustrating,” he said. “Why are we creating more shelters when we can’t afford to operate the ones we have? We need to make sure we can afford it before we spend all this money building these things.”
Virissimo said the community is remaining vigilant. “We’re keeping our eyes open, have community members going by the (H Barracks) site several times a week,” she noted.
She said she has one positive thought about H Barracks becoming a Safe Parking lot.
“We’re seeing more local communities unite together seeking answers on how these safe parking sites are going to work,” Virissimo said. “Hopefully, we can have a community conversation about it.”
Safe Parking Program
The city has designated parking lots operated by Jewish Family Service of San Diego for unsheltered San Diegans living out of vehicles to safely stay overnight with services to navigate them toward permanent housing. The Safe Parking Program’s lots are secured through controlled entry during certain hours.
The Safe Parking Program provides a welcoming environment offering wraparound services focused on basic needs assistance, employment, family wellness, school success, financial education, credit repair, and a return to housing.
The program operates at seven secured lots: H Barracks near the airport, Balboa Avenue, Aero Drive, Mission Village Drive, Rose Canyon, Encinitas, and Vista. Enrollment is required for all locations. To enroll, call (858) 637-3373.
