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By Miriam Raftery
June 8, 2024 (Spring Valley) – Nora Vargas, Chair of the San Diego County Board of Superivsors, announced yesterday that she has rescinded approval of plans to build 150 sleeping cabins in Spring Valley, after hearing concerns of neighboring residents.
“I understand concerns expressed by residents about putting these cabins near schoolsand parks where children play,and believe that we can find better,more thoughtful solutions by working with affected commuities,” a statement from Vargas read in part.
Supervisors voted 4-0 in March (with Supervisor Joel Anderson absent) to approve building the sleeping cabins on Jamacha Road.
Residents spoke out during Supervisors’ meetings and in a community forum held at the San Miguel Fire Station. A key concern was the proximity of the site to Mount Miguel High Schooland Avondale Elementary School, as well as homes and parks. While most voiced opposition, a handful voiced support.
Vargas said she wanted residents to know that “Is ee you and I hear you. The fact is, the only way that we are going to find real solutions to addressing our homelessness and housng crisis is to hear commmunity concerns and find workable solutions that prioritize the health and safety of everyone who liveshere. The cabins project slatedforJamacha Road failed tomeet that standard,” she acknowledged.
The County has already received $8.5 million in federal funds to assessalternative sites for homelessness solutions in Spring Valley,and was slated to received $10 million in state funds to apply toward the estimated $18 million of building the 150 cabins as temporary,emergency shelter.
According to the latest Point in Time count of homeless individuals conducted in January, Spring Valley has 129 people who are homeless, all of them unsheltered. East County overall has 11.6% of the homeless population countywide. Spring Valley has the second highest homeless population in East County, after El Cajon, which has 517, of whom 284 are unsheltered.
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