City of Encinitas considering parking lot for homeless proposal

SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – The City of Encinitas will consider a proposal to open a parking lot for families and people who are living in their cars.

If approved, the parking lot would be the first for homeless use in North County and modeled after other similar lots in San Diego.

The location, at the Leichtag Commons agricultural property on Saxony Road, would be operated by Jewish Family Services, the SoCal service agency that already operates three safe parking lots on Balboa Avenue, Aero Drive, and Mission Village Drive for the City of San Diego.

City Council members will hear from the head of Jewish Family Service Wednesday night. JFS says it wants approval from city leaders in Encinitas to start a similar program in North County.

The proposal has its share of opposition. Some locals have already submitted letters to Encinitas City Council against the idea.

The funding comes from a state grant, which covers a two-year period. JFS says, because there are time constraints on the use of the money, the goal is to launch the program before the end of the year.