Homeless Services

The City of Lemon Grove recognizes the concerns surrounding Homelessness in our community. We have made it a priority to work diligently in finding solutions to combat this matter. The City Council has directed staff to explore partnerships with non-profit organizations to aid in providing behavioral health services as well as long and short-term housing solutions. Through the Homeless Emergency Assistance program (HEAP) grant, Home Start receives funding to conduct homeless outreach in East County region of San Diego, which includes providing homeless services to the City of Lemon Grove. To address this issue, the City is currently partnered with Home Start, People Assisting the Homeless (PATH), Crisis House, The Salvation Army, and Family Health Centers of San Diego. 

Homelessness is not a crime. The law prevents individuals from blocking an area on, below or above the present and future streets, alleys, avenues, roads, highways, parkways, boulevards and sidewalks acquired as right-of-way. Additionally, the law doesn’t allow an individual to be removed from a location if there is not an available shelter bed. Martin vs. City of Boise, No. 15-35845 (9^th Circuit 2018), held that the Cruel and Unusual Punishments Clause of the Eighth Amendment precludes the enforcement of a statute or ordinance prohibiting sleeping outside against homeless individuals with no access to a shelter. The Court ruled, “So long as there is a greater number of homeless individuals in a jurisdiction than the number of available beds in shelters, the jurisdiction cannot prosecute homeless individuals for involuntarily sitting, lying, and sleeping in public.” The City of Lemon Grove doesn’t have a local homeless shelter.

To access resources related to homelessness, please contact:

• 9-1-1 immediately to report a threat to public safety.
• (858) 565-5200 for non-emergency Sheriff Department response.
• (619) 825-3810 to contact Public Works for a site clean up.
• 2-1-1 to get connected with County Services.
• (619) 372-1262 to contact Home Start’s Homeless Outreach Specialist.

Please be advised. When contacting the City’s Public Works Department regarding the removal of a homeless encampment the City is required by law to post a notice 72 hours prior to clean up.

As the City moves forward with implementing a homeless outreach program, it will continue to search for funding sources that can support the City’s efforts to connect homeless individuals who no longer be homeless by matching them with housing providers that can help them transition into temporary and/or permanent housing.  

This process is not easy and often times there have to be intermittent steps taken to best position each homeless individual with other services to eventually find a home. During this process, if residents, businesses, or guests are interested in supporting or donating funds for hygiene kits items and other items needed, you may reach out to Christian Olivas, Management Analyst, at 619-825-3813 or by checking out the useful resources below.