Pacifica Safe Parking Program (PSPP)
Mid-point Evaluation Report: Summary
September 2024
Prepared by:
Prepared for:
Introduction
2 About the Pacifica Safe Parking Program
Pacifica Safe Parking Program (PSPP) | Mid-point Evaluation Report Summary | September 2024 | Page Key Program Partners
The Pacifica Safe Parking Program (PSPP) began in June 2022 with the goal of supporting community members living in motor homes to return to permanent housing. The program is designed to serve individuals and families living in motor homes, with priority given to Pacifica residents.
The program is part of a settlement agreement for a 2021 class action lawsuit filed by the ACLU, the Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County and Disability Rights Advocates against the City of Pacifica's oversized vehicle ordinance and vehicular habitation ordinance. The agreement specified that the City create a temporary safe parking permit program for 13 parking spaces for motor homes.
Pacifica Resource Center (PRC) is a nonprofit community resource center with a mission to support the resilience and wellbeing of families and individuals living in Pacifica and along the coast. PRC was responsible for designing the program in compliance with the settlement specifications and is the primary implementing partner for PSPP.
Pacifica City Council unanimously approved the temporary safe parking program MOU with PRC. Under the terms of the settlement, in addition to providing PRC with funding and 13 parking spaces for the program, the City is required to stripe the parking spaces, provide regular police patrol, co-host a mobile dumping station, and provide dumpsters or other means for garbage disposal.
Pacifica Police Department provides a full-time community service officer to act as a liaison for unhoused people in the city (part of the settlement agreement).
PSPP Participants must meet eligibility criteria for the program (which includes living in a registered vehicle that can be moved and has a working toilet system) and follow the terms outlined in a Rights and Responsibilities agreement.
The ACLU and legal advocates continue to monitor compliance with the settlement agreement.
About the Evaluation
Pacifica Resource Center engaged Learning for
Action (LFA) to design and conduct a midpoint
evaluation of PSPP to identify early successes and
challenges, and opportunities to enhance the
program in its final year. Data sources include:
participant data, interviews with current and former
PSPP participants, and key program partners.
This report provides a high-level summary of the
evaluation findings.
The numerical data reported in this summary are
current as of 7/31/24, unless otherwise noted.
Pacifica Safe Parking Program (PSPP) | Mid-point Evaluation Report Summary | September 2024 | Page 3 Evaluation Findings: High-Level Findings
In general, participants value the services provided by PSPP, which help to create an increased sense of stability and reduced stress in the near term, which allowed them to turn to other needs, including accessing mental health support and planning their next steps related to career, education, and housing. Some participants also note that the program’s services help them to save money.
The ultimate goal of PSPP is to secure permanent housing for participants, which can be challenging given the current housing crisis. In spite of these challenges:
o 9 PSPP participants from six households returned
to permanent housing (as of 9/15/24)
o 85% of participants developed plans to return to
permanent housing
[Being in the program] provided a
little more stability because I didn’t
have to move every three days. I got
access to the food pantry, which was
really nice, and I was able to save a
little more money that way. I felt
connected to someone in the
community [my caseworker].
- PSPP Participant
Community Benefits
Because PSPP participants are a part of the
community, any value experienced by PSPP
participants is a benefit to the community at
large. This is an important point to emphasize,
given that many community members see PSPP
participants as a problem impacting the
community, rather than as part of the community.
While many community members are concerned
about waste generated by motor homes,
PSPP ensures that participants dispose of waste
through the proper channels. PSPP runs a
dumping program that is required for all PSPP
participants and is also available for anyone else
in the community. PSPP participants are also
required to keep their site clean of trash. In
addition, PSPP regulates noise; for example,
generators must be turned off at night.
According to the Pacifica Police Department, over
time, community members’ complaints about
motor homes parked near their home have
decreased, perhaps because their concerns
about noise and pollution did not transpire.
Overall Impact on Participants
Pacifica Safe Parking Program (PSPP) | Mid-point Evaluation Report Summary | September 2024 | Page 4 Overview of Program Services Provided
The settlement agreement specified that the City
provide 13 designated parking spots for program
participants. The program launched with eight spots,
and a ninth spot was added in October 2022.
100% of Participants Accessed
Parking Space Permits
Participants have regular access (two times per
month) to wastewater removal services. As of
April 2024, the site used for wastewater removal
also includes access to clean water.
100% of Participants Accessed
Wastewater Removal and Clean
Water
Upon enrollment, PRC completes an inspection of
each motor home. When minor repairs are needed
to meet program requirements, or there is an
opportunity to make the motor home more livable,
PRC makes arrangements for repairs, through a
local connection.
21% of Participants
Accessed Motor Home
Repairs Participants have access to other
services that PRC provides to
community members, including gift
cards to help pay for gas, propane,
and groceries; access to their food
pantry; access to on-site showers; and
referrals to needed resources, such as
mental health support.
100% of Participants had Access
to Additional Support Services
Between PSPP’s inception and July 31, 2024, PSPP has provided services to over 50 individuals, including 33 people formally enrolled in PSPP, and dozens more who have accessed publicly-available PSPP services. The core services and rates of use among participants are summarized on this and the following page.
Pacifica Safe Parking Program (PSPP) | Mid-point Evaluation Report Summary | September 2024 | Page 5 Overview of Program Services Provided
82% of Participants
received Housing Case
Management
All PSPP participants receive 1:1 support through case
management, which may include support accessing
healthy food, showers, medical care, mental health
resources, and employment resources. All participants
are also required to participate in housing case
management, in which they identify their housing goals, and the case manager helps them to understand and
pursue relevant options, including submitting
applications for affordable housing units in geographic areas that the participant is open to living.
Housing Case
Management
As of 9/15/24, nine PSPP participants (27%) have
moved into permanent housing. Former participants
found housing through a variety of methods, including
receiving a place-based voucher program through
Veterans’ Affairs, securing a Moving to Work Program
voucher, and earning sufficient income to afford marketrate housing. Some participants have stayed in Pacifica, while others have moved to areas with a lower cost of
living.
Early Outcomes
85% of Participants
developed plans to
return to permanent
housing
27% of Participants
returned to
permanent housing
(as of 9/15/24)
Pacifica Safe Parking Program (PSPP) | Mid-point Evaluation Report | September 2024 | Page 6 Opportunities to Deepen Impact
Conversations with PSPP participants and partners surfaced three key areas of opportunity to deepen the impact of PSPP in the final stretch of the program. These recommendations are explored in greater detail in the full report.
The City of Pacifica could address the following to improve program effectiveness:
• Provide all 13 spots that are specified in the settlement agreement. • Address safety issues more proactively.
• Simplify requirements for participation.
• Dedicate a secure area of land for PSPP parking.
• Continue PSPP beyond the current 3-year time frame.
PRC and participants have identified a few ways in which PRC can refine its approach to providing program services to better support participants.
• Conduct case management in a more regular and formal format. • Practice greater transparency with participants regarding steps taken to pursue affordable housing options.
• Clarify and communicate expectations for participants more clearly. • Explore opportunities to expand access to motor home repair services.
PSPP partners have opportunities to leverage relationships within and beyond Pacifica to strengthen support for PSPP and expand its reach.
• Strengthen support for PSPP among community members through education. • Foster cross-county collaboration.
• Share PSPP as a model for replication.
1. Improve Program
Design &
Implementation to
Better Serve
Participants and the
Community at Large
2. Make
Modifications to
Service Delivery
3. Leverage
Relationships to
Strengthen Support
and Expand Reach of
PSPP