City of San Leandro
Safe Parking Program
Update
Rules Committee
April 23, 2025
Human Services Director
Jessica Lobedan 1
Presentation Agenda
Background
RV Safe Parking
Vehicular Safe Parking
Other Programs to Address Vehicular Homelessness
Options for Moving Forward
Discussion and Next Steps
2 Background
May 2023: City Council Priority Workplan: Housing & Homelessness 3 Year Total Unsheltered
Population
Estimated
Households
Living in
Vehicles/RVs
% of Unsheltered
Population Living
in Vehicles/RVs
San Leandro 2022 312 86 28%
San Leandro 2024 228 68 30%
Alameda County 2022 7,135 3,924 55%
Alameda County 2024 6,343 3,426 54%
Work to Date
• Inventory of available City of San Leandro property
• Conversations with faith-based partners
• Initial exploration of commercial property
• Request for Interest for provider of RV Safe Parking Micro Pilot (10 RVs)
4 RV Safe
Parking
5 RV Safe Parking: Typical
Program Overview
Purpose: Provide designated, secure locations for
individuals or families living in RVs
Features: • Overnight and extended parking options • Access to amenities like restrooms, waste disposal, and clean water
• Safety and community health focus
Support Services: • Case management and connection to housing resources
• Assistance with transitioning to stable housing
6 RV Safe Parking: Typical Programs Goals
Program Participants
• Provide a safe, secure location to park overnight or long-term • Ensure access to essential amenities like restrooms, waste disposal, and water
• Offer support services such as case management and housing navigation • Facilitate the transition from vehicle living to stable, permanent housing Broader Community
• Enhance community safety and public health
• Promote compassionate, organized responses to homelessness 7 RV Safe Parking: Local Models
City Spaces
Available Location Type Services/Amenities Hours Annual Operating Cost
Mountain View
Pop.: 82K
Homeless: 346
Veh. Homeless: NA
46 OVs, 23
vehicles
Converted public
parking lot
Case management,
restrooms, water,
wash stations, other
basic services,
security
24/7
~$1.2M
30 OVs, 21 flex
spaces
Converted public
parking lot 24/7
East Palo Alto
Pop.: 30K
Homeless: 169
Veh. Homeless: NA 20 OVs
Vacant lot, deed
restriction for
government use
Portable showers,
restrooms and
laundry services 7pm – 7am $318K
Santa Rosa
Pop.: 176K
Homeless: 1,1160
Veh. Homeless: NA
52 spaces (both
OVs and vehicle)
Converted public
parking lot
Basic services such
as food, sanitation,
and shower
facilities, wraparound services 24/7 $1.27M
8 RV Safe Parking: Potential Challenges
Site Availability: RV Safe Parking requires a larger physical space • Whereas vehicles range from 14 – 22 feet long and up to 8 feet high, RVs can be anywhere between 18-40 feet long and 12 feet high • Requires a relatively flat space (no hills)
• Ideally the site would have access to utilities such as electrical hookups, water access, sewage or Dump station
Funding Limitations: One-time and ongoing funding
• Implementing and sustaining this program requires significant financial resources, including one- time and ongoing operational needs Partner interest/capacity: Nonprofits at capacity
• Staff issued RFI in November 2023 to seven partner agencies in the community and only one agency expressed interest
• Nonprofits have been expressing capacity challenges
9 RV Safe Parking: Potential Challenges Cont’d
Community Impact
• If San Leandro opens an RV Safe Parking program, it will be the only city in Alameda County, outside of Oakland, to operate such a program
• RV Safe Parking serves a transitory population and may attract individuals seeking this service
Operational and Participant Considerations:
• RVs serve as “mobile homes” and often hold a significant amount of personal belongings, making monitoring and oversight challenging • Some participants may be reluctant to relinquish their RVs when offered housing, which can complicate their transition to stable housing solutions • A common challenge when working with RVs is the lack of proper licensing, registration, insurance, as well as the vehicle’s ability to drive 10 Vehicular
Safe Parking
11 Vehicular Safe Parking:
Typical Program Overview
Purpose:
• Provide designated, secure locations for individuals or families living in passenger vehicles
Features:
• Overnight parking
• Access to amenities such as restrooms, waste disposal, and clean water
• Focus on safety and community health
Support Services:
• Case management and connection to housing resources
• Assistance with transitioning to stable housing
12 Vehicular Safe Parking: Program Goals
Program Participants:
• Provide a safe, secure location to park overnight or long-term • Ensure access to essential amenities like restrooms, waste disposal, and water
• Offer support services such as case management and housing navigation • Facilitate the transition from vehicle living to stable, permanent housing Broader Community:
• Enhance community safety and public health
• Promote compassionate, organized responses to homelessness 13 Vehicular Safe Parking: Local Models
City Spaces Available Location Hours Amenities Annual Operating Cost
Alameda County
Pop.: 1.622M
Homeless: 6,343
Veh. Homeless: 3,426
Not available Static
County 24/7
Security
Charging Station
Housing Support
Medical Care
Food Access
Restrooms
~$150,000 annually
City of Alameda
Pop.: 75K
Homeless: 300
Veh. Homeless: 192
30 passenger vehicles Static
Nonprofit
7 days/week
7pm – 7am
Restrooms
Support services
Breakfast
$1.08M annually for
combination safe
parking, day center,
overnight shelter
First Presbyterian
Church of Castro
Valley
10 passenger vehicles Static 7days/week
6pm – 6am
Medical screening
Restrooms
Computer lab
Showers & Laundry
Case management
~$6,000 for Porta Potty
*All other costs lumped
into onsite shelter
14 Vehicular Safe Parking: Local Models
City Spaces Available Location Hours Amenities Annual Operating Cost
Fremont
Pop.: 226K
Homeless: 612
Veh. Homeless: 379
15 passenger vehicles Rotates monthly
Faith-based
Varies nightly, most
sites provide overnight
hours only
Meals
Fuel assistance
Restrooms
$80K annually
Union City
Pop.: 65K
Homeless: 191
Veh. Homeless: NA
40 passenger vehicles
Rotates nightly
Faith based and
community centers
7 days/week
8pm – 7am
Restrooms
Case management $164,333 annually
15 Vehicular Safe Parking: Potential Challenges
Site Availability:
• Limited availability of City-owned parking lots or facilities Funding Limitations:
• Significant financial resources are required for implementation and sustainability, including both one-time and ongoing operational needs.
Partner interest/capacity: Nonprofits at capacity
• Staff issued RFI in November 2023 to seven partner agencies in the community and only one agency expressed interest
• Nonprofits have been expressing capacity challenges
Community Impact
• Safe Parking serves a highly transitory population and may attract individuals seeking this service
16 RV Buyback
Program
17 City of Berkeley RV Buyback Program
Purpose
Support individuals living in RVs in transitioning to housing by offering cash incentives to remove vehicles ($175/linear foot)
Eligibility Criteria
• RV/large vehicle is primary residence
• Previously identified in City census of RVs
• Occupant must accept interim or
permanent housing
Financial Incentives
• 15% paid after shelter move-in
• 85% paid after RV is towed
18 Options
for Moving
Forward 19
Option 1:
Safe Parking at
the San Leandro
Marina
Term limited
20 Option 1:
Safe Parking at the San Leandro Marina
21 Potential Benefits
• Physical space required for vehicle
and/or RV Safe Parking
• No cost for land
Considerations
• Funding: Initial capital expenditures,
ongoing operational funding
• Community Impacts: Public open
space, economic development impacts
• Operational Logistics: facilities
• Regulatory limitations: currently
unknown
Option 1:
Safe Parking at the San Leandro Marina
22 Potential Benefits
• Physical space required for vehicle
and/or RV Safe Parking
• No cost for land
Considerations
• Funding: Initial capital expenditures,
ongoing operational funding
• Community Impacts: Public open
space, economic development impacts
• Operational Logistics: facilities
• Regulatory limitations: currently
unknown
Option 2:
Faith-Based
Partner Roster
• Typically a lower cost option
Potential Benefits
• Funding: Ongoing operational
funding, up-front capital funding
• Community Impacts: To be
determined
• Operational logistics: Sites would
need appropriate physical layout and
facility setup
Considerations
23 Option 3:
Commercial
Property
Acquisition for
Safe Parking
Use
(Nimitz Motel Model)
• Could seek site with appropriate physical
space requirements
Potential Benefits
• Funding: One-time acquisition ad
renovation/lease expenses, ongoing
operational funding
• Community Impacts: To be determined
• Operational logistics: To be determined
Considerations
24 Vacant Industrial Properties for Sale (October 2024) 25 ADDRESS SQUARE FOOTAGE COST
14595 E 14th St, San Leandro, CA 94578 9,700 $1,795,000 2483-2495 Washington Ave, San Leandro, CA 94577 45,040 $1,790,060 14333 Wicks Blvd, San Leandro, CA 94577 25,384 $5,500,000 470-476 Whitney St, San Leandro, CA 94577 10,000 $3,133,000 303-325 W Joaquin Ave, San Leandro, CA 94577 13,622 $3,580,000 14820-14826 Wicks Blvd, San Leandro, CA 94577 13,208 $3,600,000 3188 Alvarado St, San Leandro, CA 94577 13,484 $4,250,000 Average cost per square foot: $229
Average total cost: $3.4M
Non-Industrial Properties for Sale – October
2024
ADDRESS SQUARE FOOTAGE COST
303-325 W Joaquin Ave, San Leandro, CA 94577 13,622 $3,580,000 14820-14826 Wicks Blvd, San Leandro, CA 94577 13,208 $3,600,000 3188 Alvarado St, San Leandro, CA 94577 13,484 $4,250,000 26 Average cost per square foot: $284
Average total cost: $3.8M
Option 3a:
Commercial
Property
Acquisition for
Shelter, Interim
Housing, or
Permanent
Housing – Serving
Veh. Homeless
Population
(Nimitz Motel Model)
• Could seek site with appropriate physical
space requirements that focuses on the
community need with an alternate
solution
Potential Benefits
• Funding: One-time acquisition ad
renovation/lease expenses, ongoing
operational funding
• Community Impacts: To be determined
• Operational logistics: To be determined
Considerations
27 Option 4:
RV Buyback
program
• Moves people from vehicular homelessness to
shelter or housing
• Provides financial support to incentivize transition
• Reduces vehicle clutter and safety concerns in
encampment areas
• Facilitates cleaner, more manageable public spaces
Potential Benefits
• Funding: Operational funds for buyback
• Community Impacts: Could reduce RV
homelessness
• Operational logistics: Shelter placement
coordination, vehicle towing and disposal
Considerations
28 Option 5:
Collective
Advocacy for
Alameda County to
Lead
• Community need being met
Potential Benefits
• Funding: To be determined
• Community Acceptance: To be
determined
• Operational Logistics: No local
control, unknown local benefit
Considerations
29 Discussion
and Next
Steps 30
Questions for Committee Direction
• What option(s) would the Committee like staff to continue exploring?
• Are any options off the table?
• Did staff miss anything?
31