Oceanside accepts $11.4M to house people in Route 78 homeless encampments (original) (raw)

Oceanside formally accepted an $11 million state grant Wednesday to be shared with Carlsbad over the next three years to secure permanent homes for an estimated 200 people living in encampments along the state Route 78 corridor between Vista and Interstate 5.

Multiple encampments have been documented in the public right-of-way along the nearly four-mile corridor just north of Buena Vista Creek, a state-designated ecological reserve for sensitive native species.

Sal Roman, Oceanside’s housing management analyst, said the goal was to address all the residents there.

A portion of Oceanside’s share of the grant, almost $1.3 million annually over the three years, will go to Interfaith Community Services, a nonprofit that provides emergency shelter and supportive services for homeless people across North County.

About $5.3 million will go to Carlsbad for programs such as La Posada de Guadalupe, a shelter run by Catholic Charities. A facility for migrant farmworkers for decades, La Posada is being expanded to include space for families with children.

Other programs set to receive a share of the Carlsbad funding are the Community Resource Center of Encinitas and the Whole Person Care Clinic of Escondido, which also provide regional services.

Together Oceanside and Carlsbad proposed a multidisciplinary approach with wraparound services including case management, peer support, street medicine, harm reduction, mental health care and help finding interim and then permanent housing.

Four speakers addressed the council on the issue Wednesday. They emphasized the need to provide compassionate help and to be aware that people will be resistant to change.

“How do we know that this doesn’t just push encampments into less visible places?” asked resident G.T. Wharton.

“The program is designed not to push people away,” said Roman, the program manager.

“This is not a sweep,” he added. “There is no law enforcement officers involved. These are all professionals who are going in and doing the work … until each individual is served and moved on to the next step in their housing.”

That does not mean the city “will turn a blind eye” to any illegal activities in the encampments, said City Manager Jonathan Borrego.

“Clearly the goal is to get people into housing, but that doesn’t mean the folks out there get a pass to do whatever they want,” Borrego said. “It’s a delicate balance.”

Multiple contacts often are needed before a person agrees to accept services, he said, and the grant’s three-year window helps to allow that.

“This is an incredible program,” said Councilmember Eric Joyce. “It follows the continuum of care, which is what we should be doing all over the city.”

Other council members said the program should be closely monitored to assure the money is spent wisely.

“I do not want to waste $11 million of taxpayer dollars,” said Councilman Ryan Keim. “If someone resists services for three years, we have to be able to address that effectively. That’s the challenge right now in California.”

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced $192 million in Encampment Resolution Fund grants from the state’s Interagency Council on Homelessness in April, with money awarded to 20 programs in 17 communities statewide.

The Oceanside-Carlsbad award was one of the largest, and the only one in San Diego County.

Originally Published: August 22, 2024 at 3:38 p.m.