Departments » Housing & Homeless Services

Reducing Homelessness

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The City of Carlsbad is committed to addressing the problem of homelessness in our community and has devoted local resources toward this goal. To meet the goals of the City Council's 5-Year Strategic Plan, staff are implementing an updated Homelessness Action Plan to reduce homelessness and its effects on the community. 

The Homelessness Action Plan continues the city's strategy of focusing on programs that will make the biggest difference for Carlsbad.

Addressing living in vehicles

Post Date:08/25/2025 9:09 AM

We’ve received questions recently about how the city is addressing illegal parking and people living in vehicles in public spaces in Carlsbad. Our Police and Housing & Homeless Services departments have been working together on a balanced approach to help people secure housing while continuing to hold people accountable and enforce city laws that prohibit illegal parking and camping in vehicles in public spaces. 
 
The city is working hard and taking significant steps to address this issue through education, outreach and enforcement. 
 
Here’s an update: 

Updated law 

    • On March 18, the City Council updated a city law to prohibit camping in vehicles in public spaces such as parks, beaches and city-owned property and parking lots. The law took effect 30 days later.

    • Before enforcement began, our Homeless Outreach Team – consisting of six officers and one Sergeant who are out in the community seven days a week – conducted public outreach to individuals living in vehicles to inform them of the new laws and try to bridge them to available resources.

    • With the education period complete, enforcement is now in effect. Individuals who refuse offers of shelter or services are now receiving warnings and citations. 

    New grant-funded outreach program 

    • Since June, grant-funded outreach has been underway in the Village, Barrio and beach areas to connect people living in vehicles to housing and services. 

    • Outreach hours now include early mornings and late nights, when people are more likely to be in their vehicles. 

    Results so far 

    • In recent weeks, our Homeless Outreach Team Officers, Rangers and Community Service Officers have been conducting late night and early morning proactive enforcement details to address oversized vehicles, illegal camping and other illegal parking related violations. The effort is being conducted city wide. 

    • Violations have included unlawful camping in vehicles, oversized vehicle parking, unregistered vehicles and parking in restricted areas. 

    A full update on the proactive parking enforcement efforts will be presented at the Sept. 30 City Council meeting.  

    You can report concerns through our Carlsbad Connects app or by contacting our Homeless Outreach Team at policehot@carlsbadca.gov or 442-339-2249. 

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