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Safe Parking Strategy
Safe Parking Host Site Pilot Program Launches January 31, 2022
The Safe Parking Host Site Pilot Program is one of many programs the Fremont City Council has recently adopted to help address homelessness in the City of Fremont. The Program is designed as a safe, transitional space for individuals living in their vehicle. The program is a rotational model, with faith-based organizations across the City hosting individuals or couples on their site for one month before rotating to the next site.
Four faith-based sites have championed this safe parking initiative by providing their space to community members in need. The City of Fremont is grateful for the following partners: Christ the King, Grace Church, Niles Discovery Church, and South Bay Community Church.
The pilot program currently has capacity for 15 passenger vehicles. Unfortunately, Recreational Vehicles cannot be accommodated during this pilot program.
The full schedule of the rotational program will be provided to enrolled participants. There is no drop-in enrollment for this program, please call 510-574-2222 or email safeparking@fremont.gov. Unauthorized vehicles risk impoundment, as host sites are private property.
Participants are required to work with their social service provider to support their search for stable housing. At this time, only participants aged 18 and above are permitted to enroll in the program. Program participants sign agreement forms, outlining program rules and times in which the sites open in the evening and close in the morning. Volunteers will assist checking in participants and checking them out of the host site lots each day. Persons interested in volunteering may contact Compassion Network at: specialprojects@cityserve.org. Volunteers will also assist in offering hospitality services for the participants, including dinner service or fellowship, haircuts, and/or resume writing workshops; these events will be coordinated and communicated by the Host Site.
If you have questions about the Safe Parking Host Site Pilot Program, please review answers to Frequently Asked Questions here.
Donate today:
A Vehicle Assistance Fund has been established to assist SPHS program participants with costs including obtaining or replacing their Driver’s License, vehicle registration and insurance costs, reasonable car repairs, and gas vouchers. Click here for complete information and to make your donation online.
Contact Information:
For questions about volunteering: please contact City Serve Compassion Network at: specialprojects@cityserve.org.
For questions about the Safe Parking Host Site Pilot Program: please contact Guadalupe Gonzalez at safeparking@fremont.gov.
Is your organization interested in becoming host site? Please review our Outreach Packet or email us to make an appointment to learn more
Download our volunteer flyer here.
Download our flyer on information about the Safe Parking Program here.
Download the participant information flyer here.
Program History:
- May 13, 2021 - The City's Planning Commission considered an ordinance to allow safe parking at private host sites, such as religious facilities and community nonprofits. The proposed text amendments would create a ministerial permitting process through which community-based organizations and religious facilities could provide overnight safe parking at their owned or leased property for up to 20 vehicles.
- June 15, 2021 - The Fremont City Council voted to adopt an ordinance to allow safe parking at community-based host sites, such as religious facilities and nonprofits. Ordinance information is available online in the City's Staff Report. The ordinance creates a City permitting process by which community organizations can apply to become a “safe parking host site” and host unhoused people in parking lots at their properties. The ordinance contains specific standards that all host sites must follow in order to ensure that participants receive adequate services and that sites have minimal impacts on nearby neighbors.
- July 20, 2021 - The Fremont City Council approved the program design for a new Safe Parking Host Site program. The approved materials included procedures for screening and intake of participants, as well as additional details for how City staff will support organizations in becoming safe parking host sites through assisting with the provision of temporary facilities, site coordination, and social services. The approved program details are available online in the City's Staff Report.
- The Safe Parking Host Sites program will be a collaborative effort between the City and community partners. The City's Human Services Department is interested in connecting with organizations who may be interested in becoming a Safe Parking Host Site or supporting the program through other donations—for example, through a Vehicle Repair Fund to support those living in their vehicles who may need assistance with obtaining critical licensing and registration documents or performing basic car maintenance. If your organization is interested in learning more about these opportunities, please contact City staff by email.
The Next Step in Addressing Homelessness in Fremont
The opening of the City of Fremont’s new Housing Navigation Center in September 2020 was a significant step forward in addressing homelessness in the Fremont community. Now that the Navigation Center is operational and at capacity, the City is prioritizing the development of programs that serve a different portion of the homeless population: people living in vehicles.Safe Parking: A Crisis Response
The idea of “safe parking” is to provide people living in their vehicles with a designated place to park that is secure and provides access to health and safety amenities. Some amenities that are commonly provided in safe parking areas include: water, sewage disposable, waste collection, power hook-ups, security, restrooms, access to showers and laundry, assistance with vehicle repair and licensing, and health and housing assistance. In order to develop a Safe Parking Strategy for Fremont, City staff has researched program models and conducted outreach to stakeholders. Staff spoke with the operators of safe parking programs around the Bay Area to better understand how different sites in the region are organized and operated. A summary of some safe parking programs that staff has researched is available in this Safe Parking Success Stories Handout.
Safe Parking Strategy
On February 16, 2021, City staff presented their proposed Safe Parking Strategy to the Fremont City Council. The proposed Strategy consists of three programs to provide designated secure parking areas in Fremont for unhoused people living in their vehicles:Safe Parking Host Sites Ordinance Moving Forward
At the Fremont City Council meeting on February 16, 2021, the Council directed staff to proceed immediately with developing a private host site program and to return to the Council at a later date with additional information about the other proposed programs. The host sites ordinance was adopted by the Council on June 15, 2021 and will go into effect in mid-July. To view the ordinance, please view the City's Staff Report.City staff are also moving forward with developing a program to support organizations in becoming safe parking host sites through assisting with the provision of temporary facilities, site coordination, and social services. Staff will be finalizing information about this program, including procedures for screening and intake of participants, and returning to City Council for their input later this summer.
Anticipated Process and Timeline for Other Strategies
Staff expects to present additional information about the other two safe parking strategies to the Fremont City Council in early fall 2021. A specific date has not been set. As updates become available, they will be posted to this webpage and emailed to subscribers of the Safe Parking Strategy Interest List.Community Survey
To start the process of developing a Safe Parking Strategy, the City asked the community to provide their input through a community survey. The survey launched in early December 2020 and remained open until January 25, 2021. Over 450 responses were received, and the City thanks everyone who participated in the survey.View an overview of the survey results.
More Information
- Safe Parking Strategy Interest List: Sign up to receive email updates.
- Email: Send the City an email for additional questions or to share feedback.