In a bid to address the rising number of individuals living in their vehicles and the accompanying community concerns, the Carlsbad City Council proposed an ordinance on Tuesday to restrict camping in vehicles on public spaces and city-owned property. As reported by the City of Carlsbad's official website, Housing & Homeless Services Director Mandy Mills stated, "The goal of the presented ordinance is to have a balanced approach to helping people experiencing homelessness secure housing while continuing to reduce the impacts of homelessness on the community."
Before citations are issued, the city aims to offer shelter and services, as Mandy Mills told the City of Carlsbad's official website. Issuing warnings via the city's Homeless Outreach Team will follow if individuals decline the offered services. In the words of Carlsbad Chief of Police Christie Calderwood, as per the City of Carlsbad, "This ordinance provides our officers with an additional tool to maintain public safety and hold and address unlawful behavior when necessary, while continuing to prioritize services and resources for those in need."
According to data from the 2024 annual Point-in-Time Count, there's almost a double in the number of people living in cars and RVs in Carlsbad since the previous year, and the region overall has seen an increase of 44% over the previous year. The law changes come after the city gathered feedback suggesting a unified approach to effectively manage the situation, improving enforcement and personalized outreach to help homeless people find stable housing.
Scheduled for adoption at the March 18 City Council meeting, the ordinance is expected to become effective 30 days later. Comprising six officers and one sergeant, the city's Homeless Outreach Team, who are on duty seven days a week, will carry out public outreach to inform vehicle residents of the new regulations and connect them to available services. The team's commitment to informing residents of the new laws and orchestrating their connection to available services is part of their duty, they told the City of Carlsbad's official website.
