Supportive Parking

The City of San José has an ordinance in place that enables non-profits, businesses, faith organizations and service clubs to establish a managed and secure place to rest in their parking lots.

Supportive Parking is sometimes known as Safe Parking. These sites provide individuals and families who temporarily live in their cars, recreational vehicles (RVs), or other vehicles a managed and secure place to rest. It is estimated more than 1,000 people sleep in vehicles on any given night in San José. These people are vulnerable to assault and robbery among many difficulties that come with living in a vehicle. Supportive Parking Areas provide these individuals and families with safer places to park overnight.

View supportive parking FAQs at the bottom of this page.

How to host a Supportive Parking program on a private lot:

If your organization is interested in providing Supportive Parking, the Housing Department can offer guidance on what is needed to demonstrate compliance with the City’s ordinance.

Learn what the requirements are and apply with our Registration Packet.
- Paquete de registro
- Gói đăng ký

The free registration process is fast and simple. Any organization interested in creating a Safe Parking Area should contact the City’s Housing Department at safe.parking@sanjoseca.gov.

TEMPORARY AND INCIDENTAL SHELTER

The City of San José has an ordinance in place that enables non-profits, businesses, faith organizations and service clubs to use space in their facilities as temporary shelters for homeless individuals.

How to host Temporary and Incidental Shelter:

If your organization is interested in establishing a shelter, the organization must be registered with the Housing Department by completing a registration packet. The registration packet is intended to help organizations hosting Temporary or Incidental Shelter comply with the City’s ordinance.

Learn what are the requirements and apply with our Registration Packet.
- Paquete de registro
- Gói đăng ký

Please contact host.shelter@sanjoseca.gov with questions about the Temporary and Incidental Shelter Program.

Frequently Asked Questions about Supportive Parking

About the Santa Teresa Supportive Parking Site

What is a “supportive parking” site?
There are more than 6,000 individuals experiencing homelessness in San Jose, of which 75% are unsheltered. When funded by the City, Supportive Parking (sometimes called Safe Parking) is a program managed by a social service provider that offers unhoused individuals and families with vehicles a temporary place to park overnight while working towards a transition to permanent housing. Associated services and amenities may include restrooms, shower facilities, waste management services, security and controlled access for entry and exit.

Who is the operator and what are the operator’s responsibilities?
LifeMoves will be the onsite operator and is responsible for the day-to-day operations.

LifeMoves will be responsible for providing onsite program staff support including security, community outreach, case management, and supportive services with the goal to connect clients to stable housing.

LifeMoves has been providing services to families and individuals in Santa Clara and San Mateo County for over 40 years. They are the largest shelter provider in the Peninsula with 26 sites and growing. They serve over 1500 clients each night and provide supportive services to homeless families and individuals to ensure they return to stable housing. LifeMoves has years of experience operating Supportive Parking Programs having operated programs in Redwood City as well as San Jose in 2019 at the Seven Trees Community Center and Southside Community Center.

How/why was the Santa Teresa VTA parking lot chosen?
The City evaluated many potential Supportive Parking sites before making the decision to move forward with this site. Key criteria in the decision included the size of the paved area, availability of the parking lot during evening hours, accessible space for dumpsters and portable toilets, and willingness of the property owner to provide the City temporary control of the space.

Will this be a permanent site or a temporary site? If temporary, how long will it be used?
San José City Council authorized the execution of a license agreement between the Housing Department and VTA with an initial term of 48 months.

What services will be offered to participants?
In addition to basic needs services, such as restrooms, water, and trash service participants are offered a wide array of services to help support them in transitioning to stable housing. Those services may include employment counseling, housing locator assistance, financial literacy classes, benefits enrollment, health care referrals, substance abuse counseling, and behavioral health services.

What kinds of vehicles are allowed onsite?
For the purposes of the Supportive Parking Program, Recreational Vehicle is defined as a camp trailer, a fifth wheel travel trailer, a house car, a trailer, a trailer coach, a mobile home, a park trailer, a recreational vehicle, or a truck camper as defined by applicable sections of the California Health and Safety Code the California Vehicle Code, and which are designed for human habitation or occupancy or designed and used for recreational camping or travel use, whether self-propelled or mounted on or drawn by another vehicle.

Do vehicles need to be operable and registered?
All RVs must have a valid registration and insurance prior to arriving to the site.

Will people be allowed to keep belongings outside their vehicles?
Per fire regulations, the site must maintain a 10-foot clearance between each RV. No tents or other structures are allowed.

Will people be allowed to cook outdoors?
Cooking outdoors will not be allowed.

What are the proposed sanitation facilities (e.g., toilets, sinks, garbage bins, etc.)?
Participants will have access to trash receptacles, restrooms and hand-washing stations. There will be routine cleaning of portable restrooms and trash pick-up. There will also be mobile grey water disposal services for program participants.

How has the community been notified about the program?
The Housing Department, District 2 office, and District 10 office have worked closely to inform the community of the program and have conducted several community outreach sessions. Currently, D2 and D10 host a bi-weekly Community Advisory Committee specific to the VTA Safe Parking Program. Please contact district10@sanjoseca.gov for more information.

Why are so many homeless programs located in D2?
Unhoused residents live in every corner of our City. In response to this crisis, the City, the County, and our partners operate shelters, affordable housing, and interim housing (sometimes called tiny homes) in dozens of communities around San José. While it may feel like one neighborhood or council district is bearing the brunt of this effort, City staff has made it a priority to ensure homelessness solutions are not concentrated in one area.

Application Process for Supportive Parking Program

Who will be allowed to live at the site?
The Supportive Parking for RVs program will serve unhoused individuals and households using their RVs as their primary residence. Participants will complete an eligibility screening and must obtain a referral to be enrolled in the program.
How are program participants screened?
Participants must obtain a referral to be enrolled in the program. Clients must provide proof of RV registration and insurance, and a valid CA ID to participate in the program. All program participants must also agree to the participant guidelines and rules. Individuals and couples interested in the program can email sanjoservsafeparking@lifemoves.org to learn more about the program.
How long can program participants stay in the Supportive Parking program?
Length of time varies per client. Participants will work with their assigned case managers on their individual goals and actively work toward those goals. Participants in supportive parking programs typically stay a few months before transitioning into positive housing outcomes.

Safety at Santa Teresa Supportive Parking Site

Will there be on-site security?
Yes, there will be security overnight to monitor the site. Program participants must check in when they arrive and any visitors must check-in. Only approved visitors will be allowed onsite. Additionally, program staff will be onsite during the day.
What will be done to address dangerous activity from occurring at the site?
There will be security on-site that will monitor for loitering and trespassing. Participants must abide by program rules to remain enrolled in the program. There will be close collaboration with the SJPD.
Who can neighbors contact to report concerns about the site?
Community members can report concerns by emailing safe.parking@sanjoseca.gov or by calling (408) 793-6827.
Will the site operate 24/7 or only in the evenings?
This site will operate 24/7 with program staff present during the day and security present overnight.
What is the City’s plan to prevent the site from becoming a junkyard?
In addition to requiring personal belongings be stored in vehicles, the site will have a regular garbage collection schedule.
Will there be rules to limit noise?
Yes. Program participants are expected to respect quiet hours each night, from 10:00 pm to 7:00 am, 7 days a week.
What was the consideration of the nearby Santa Teresa Elementary School children, which is within easy walking distance from the VTA parking lot?
Many factors were considered before the site was selected (see response to question #2). Multiple measures will be implemented at the site, including 24/7 staffing and on-site security. The location will also have fencing to secure the area. No loitering will be allowed outside the fence. The program is by referral only. There will be no drop-in services to prevent lines or queues from forming.

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