By Pastor Steve Babbitt

Last Monday night we received the first participants in the Safe Overnight Parking Program, and everything went very smoothly. I came out before sunrise on Tuesday morning to pray for our guests and learn how the operation worked in the mornings, and it was refreshingly clean, quiet, and orderly. The staff at Dreams for Change really know what they are doing. I was even stopped by one of the 24/7 security guards who wanted to know who I was and why I was on the grounds so early!

On Wednesday, we had a Q&A with neighbors about the program, and I think a lot of misinformation was put to rest. If you saw the news coverage, you might have gotten the false impression that it was an angry mob, but it really wasn’t. Remember, conflict, real or perceived, is the bread and butter of the news media, so they always tend to showcase the 10% who belch noise. In reality, about 90% of the people came with honest, good questions, and left with a better understanding. Several neighbors called or wrote to me to express their support afterward. Whether in the supportive majority or not, I hope we all felt better after getting a chance to vent any frustration and ask good questions. As I told even those who didn’t want to listen, we’re still neighbors, and I’m still available any time, and would be honored if they would be willing to tell me more.

Speaking of questions about the Safe Overnight Parking Program, I’m sure a number of us, as members of the church that hosts this program, have questions about how the safe overnight parking program works. I am working on arranging a tour and another Q&A session with the Dreams for Change program staff once they get settled in – hopefully within a few weeks. That will really give us all a better picture.

But until then, I thought I’d share some answers to a few of the biggest questions that have come up about the Safe Overnight Parking Program.

Before I share those questions and answers, I should point out that until I learned the answers to these questions a few years back, I was Spring Valley’s biggest skeptic about the program. After I spent the time investigating and learned about the details, however, I changed my mind, and I now believe the safe overnight parking program has the potential to really help those who need it.

Here are the top questions (so far – remember, this is a growing list) about the Safe Overnight Parking Program at Spring Valley Church:

Q: Can just anyone pull up and park overnight?

A: No. There is an intake process, and only those who have been thoroughly vetted by the County and Dreams for Change and have been admitted to the program can park overnight. If anyone attempts to park here and they are not in the program, they will be turned away. Click here for intake information.

Q: When does it operate?

A: Overnight from 5pm to 7:30am. People in the program are not allowed to line up in their cars before it opens at 5 at night, and are required to vacate the property after it closes at 7:30 in the morning. Absolutely no loitering is allowed on or near the premises during the day.  

Q: Can people in the program leave anything on-site during the day?

A: No. Nothing, not even a pen, can be left on-site by participants during the day.

Q: Are there really children living in their cars?

A: Yes. The La Mesa-Spring Valley School District alone reports they have more than 400 homeless students, and those children and their families are given top priority when they apply to participate in the program.

Q: How big is it?

A: The parking lot can accommodate a max of 27 cars. So far, there have been fewer than 10 per night. It varies each night based on participants and their ability to get into a better situation.

Q: What if a participant has a car that doesn’t work?

A: Vehicles must be fully operable. No car is allowed on site if it is inoperable.

Q: What is the goal of the program? 

A: To help those who are currently living in their cars to get into permanent housing within 60 days.

Q: Who can apply for the program?

A: Only those who are willing to do their part to get into permanent housing as quickly as possible. 

Q: How long can someone stay in the program?

A: In general participants have 60 days to get into permanent housing. While there are exceptions, Dreams for Change’s contract with the county requires that a large percentage of participants either get into permanent housing within that time frame, or exit the program. 

Q: What type of support is available to help participants get into permanent housing? 

A: A tremendous amount of support is available. Dreams for Change staff are experts at getting rental applications in, helping with resume writing, job placement, and overall support.  

Q: How successful is Safe Overnight Parking at getting people into homes?

A: Safe Overnight Parking run by Dreams for Change has a current success rate of 46%, far higher than the success rate of 11% in traditional shelters. 

Q: What types of people are in the program?

A: Only those who are willing to do their part to get into permanent housing may enter the program. If someone does not want to make a plan and do their part to work that plan, they are ejected from the program.

Q: What about noise?

A: The program has a noise curfew of 10pm, which is a full hour earlier than the legal curfew of 11pm. Any neighbors who have a noise complaint should let the security guard on duty know.

Q: What about dogs?

A: Pets are allowed, but must be kept on a leash. There is a dog run where dogs can go potty, but the owners are required to clean up after them. 

Q: What are the little buildings on the site? Are participants sleeping in them?

A: No, people may only sleep in their cars. There are five small buildings in the overnight parking lot: One is the security guard post at the front gate, which is the base of operations for the 24/7 security staff. Two buildings have bathrooms and showers. One building is storage for the program staff. The last building has a microwave, fridge, and coffee maker for participants to use when they are on-site. There is also a covered gazebo for shade.

Q: Are sex offenders allowed in the program?

A: No. Sex offenders are not allowed in the program. There is zero tolerance for sex offenders.  

Q: What about drugs and alcohol?

A: No alcohol or drugs are allowed in the Safe Parking Lot, not even medical marijuana with a prescription.

Q: What happens during the day when the parking program is not in operation?

A: It is very quiet. A security gerd is still on duty to make sure participants do not loiter on or near the property. Many participants have a program or a job to go to during the day. Dreams for Change staff discourages participants from loitering or parking anywhere nearby in the neighborhood. However, once someone is off site, they have the right, by law, to park safely on a public street. However, if you see a participant parking illegally or causing problems, please call Dreams for Change to let them know, and they will take measures to address it with the participant. So far, we have had no problems. According to the founder of Dreams for Change, people allowed into the overnight parking program have to demonstrate that they are motivated to get into a better housing situation. Therefore, they are not looking for any trouble, and are usually out looking for housing or working during the daytime. Still, if you see something, let them know so they can address it with their participants.

Q; What can we do as a community to help Dreams for Change and participants be successful?

A: The answer to that is evolving, but we know that no one gets truly healthy in isolation. For those of us who follow Jesus, we have a special obligation to befriend, care for, and encourage those who are less fortunate than we are. For the next three months, until November, I am respectfully asking any disciples of Jesus who are willing to be engaged and involved in loving our neighbors to simply watch and wait, to pray and listen to what the Lord might want us to do together. Please share any of your ideas with me -- we have been collecting some great ideas and, as my wife says, “putting them into the crock pot to simmer” as we watch and wait.

Thank you, and may your eyes be open to the ways that God is blessing you today!