City Manager Graham Mitchell says the city should not store homeless individuals’ belongings after encampment clearings
The city of El Cajon showed a rise in their homeless population during the annual point in time count in January. City leaders have objected to the results of the count. El Cajon’s top administrator said the city should not implement a proposed program to store homeless individuals’ personal belongings after encampments are cleared.
The city of El Cajon showed a rise in their homeless population during the annual point in time count in January.. City leaders have objected to the results of the count. El Cajon’s top administrator said the city should not implement a proposed program to store homeless individuals’ personal belongings after encampments are cleared. The city typically conducts encampment clearings and cleanups twice a week. Individuals at the encampments are told to relocate, and items that are left behind are collected and disposed of by the city. Last year, the city’s homeless encampment team removed around 250 tons of abandoned items, according to a recent report. During the city’s annual update on homelessness programs over the summer, city leaders asked staff to research the feasibility of a storage program for items that are collected when encampments are cleared.Providing storage opportunities for homeless individuals after clearings can be helpful to those pursuing treatment or housing options, a staff report said. Similar programs have been implemented in the city of San Diego and Lemon Grove. Individuals oftentimes use the facilities to safely keep their important documents or However, staff noted a large cost associated with implementing and staffing a storage program. Assuming a basic setup, the city estimated initial costs toThe report said such a program would require hiring an additional employee at an annual cost of up to $120,000.Staff cited low rates of property retrieval at existing facilities in the county. In Lemon Grove, items gathered from encampment clearings are placed in 65-gallon containers stored on pallets. Individuals call a phone number listed on an inventory sheet and items are brought to City Hall for retrieval. According to the report, “few individuals” have returned for their items. A similar program exists in the city of San Diego. Individuals call the phone number listed on the encampment notice and staff bring the stored items to them. “The City reports that items are rarely impounded because advance notice typically results in individuals removing their belongings, leaving only trash behind,” the report states.The issue of what to do with the personal property of those living in encampments is the subject of several lawsuits, including a class-action lawsuit filed in 2024 alleging that officers and government workers from around the region are repeatedly, and illegally, throwing out homeless residents’ personal property in East County.After second trial, jury convicts San Diego County deputy who seriously injured restrained inmateMagoon Gwath has big game vs. Fresno State , Aztecs stay in first place San Diego’s pension jump could be four times as painful as previously thought, as payment hits recordNick Canepa’s Report Card: Chargers fail, flail in playoff loss to PatriotsLighting issue temporarily closes runway at San Diego International AirportThis massive new artwork spans a San Diego freeway. But you’ll only be able to see it on foot.
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