The City of San Pablo’s collaborative efforts in recent years to address its unhoused population resulted in a 30 percent decline in homelessness for two consecutive years, according to the city.
Because of this success, the city is being asked to address homelessness and blight on a parcel owned by Contra Costa County. The parcel is located at the south curb line of El Portal Drive, just west of the intersection of Fordham Street and El Portal Drive.
“This property habitually has illegal encampments, large amounts of trash visible from the roadway, and fire hazards due to the presence of warming fires amongst heavy foliage,” city officials said.
At its upcoming meeting Monday, the San Pablo City Council is scheduled to review the request to use city resources to address the county parcel’s problems.
“Staff is proposing that the city enter into an agreement with Contra Costa County to assume code enforcement and homeless outreach services for this parcel of county-owned property,” city staff states. “Contra Costa County will remain responsible for costs associated with the general maintenance of this property.”
The City of San Pablo said it created a Priority Oriented Policing Unit (POP) in 2022 to address homelessness, blight and to improve community relations. Within the POP unit exists the Crisis Reponse Team (CRT), which was created to serve people experiencing homelessness or mental health crises. The CRT works in tandem with the city’s Code Enforcement Unit to address homelessness and blight.
The city also began contracting with the county’s Coordinated Outreach Referral, Engagement (CORE) homeless outreach program in 2018. CORE canvasses to identify, engage and connect people to healthcare, social services and housing, which the San Pablo Police Department has found beneficial to people experiencing homelessness. CORE services in the city has since expanded, including through a cost-sharing program with the City of El Cerrito that has resulted in an additional 309 contacts made with unhoused individuals in San Pablo. Also on Tuesday, the City of San Pablo will consider a new plan to further expand CORE services in the city through a cost-sharing agreement with additional cities such as Pinole and Hercules.
