Palo Alto Expands Church ‘Safe Parking’ Program

The city is considering adding commercial lots to the program, which provides safe parking and amenities for people living in cars.

1 minute read

December 6, 2023, 12:00 PM PST

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Aerial view of Palo Alto, California at sunrise.

Jacob / Adobe Stock

The Palo Alto city council voted to make its Congregation-Based Safe Parking Program permanent, reports Lauren Martinez for ABC 7. The program lets people living in their cars park in designated church parking lots overnight and access restrooms and other services. “The city said this year, 34 individuals were connected to housing from these sites.”

According to a city survey, 88 percent of unhoused people in Palo Alto were sleeping in vehicles in January 2023. The new rules allow the churches to let more cars use their space and increase available safe parking space for RVs in a separate lot. 

Tuesday, December 5, 2023 in ABC 7 News

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