Monday, Dec. 16th, 2024
SAN DIEGO - Off Main St. in Chula Vista, in front of Otay Regional Park, you can find a special village for people experiencing homelessness. The Chula Vista Village at Otay has 65 sleeping units, bathrooms, laundry, a kitchen, security, and community areas.
To common disbelief, the property is quiet with few residents going in and out of the shelter for nearby stores. Angelica Davis, Homeless Services Manager of Chula Vista, explains, “The whole point is to have given them their privacy.”
Full amenities within the property allow the residents to settle in their temporary home. The kitchen provides three meals a day and is a social area with a television and group tables. In the kitchen, you can find chore charts and flyers advertising basketball hours and upcoming meals.
“It’s complete wraparound services. In addition to meals, we have case management, housing navigation, and employment placement.” Davis explains the Village at Otay tries to address every issue they might encounter. The shelter is meant to provide temporary housing during a transitional period for the residents.
“We have weekly meetings as case managers with them,” explains one of the case managers on site, “So any changes in their life, any progress they’re making towards their goals, [they] update their situation as it goes. And we all operate together here.”
Along with the current staff on site, groups such as City Net, Ikea, Everytable, and Chula Vista Police Foundation have all helped build and operate the shelter. Everytable caters the meals for the shelter while Ikea provided all the furnishings for the property. Chula Vista Police Foundation donated dog kennels to the shelter, eliminating a common barrier - some shelters don’t allow homeless individuals to bring their pets into the shelter.
Chula Vista Village at Otay was planned by the Chula Vista Homeless Outreach Team and came to fruition with various funding from federal, state, and county funding. The project amounted to $6.6 million with site preparation, construction, design, operational supplies, and facilities. California Senate Bill 2, an $75 increase on recording fees, supports the funding for the upkeep of the shelter.
The Village has plans for Phase 2 of the project that will include solar panels, work stations with computers, and another bathroom.
“As we’re moving into phase two with solar panels and making it more sustainable, it’s actually coming from the County of San Diego. That’s about $1.8 million.” Davis explains their funding source for the next phase.
The Chula Vista Homeless Outreach Team gives referrals to the shelter for people they find during community outreach or have reached out to them via email, homelessness@chulavistaca.gov.