The Safe Park

[Daiana Parthemore]

Asof Jan.1, Thrive2Survive is the new service provider for the Road2Home Safe Park. With more than 50 parking spaces assigned to cars and RVs, the program serves an average of 80 people and serves as a vital resource to vulnerable community members. Restrooms, shower facilities and trash services are available to ensure a healthy environment.

Thrive2Survive provides peer-to-peer support and case management to help move residents into stable housing. A code of conduct, which summarizes expectations for the program, is for all participants in the Road2Home Safe Park program. The site is staffed 24/7.

The Road2Home Safe Park community is an organized and managed site where people who live in their motor vehicles can park safely. It is located at the Evergreen Transit Center (1504 N.E. 138th Avenue), in partnership with C-TRAN.

By employing underutilized parking lots, Safe Parking LA fills a gap in homeless services and addresses the unique problems faced by adults and families whose only source of shelter is their vehicle. Our programs provide safety through secure overnight parking, basic dignity by restoring much-needed access to restrooms and running water, and empowerment through strengths-based case management to a return to stable housing.

The Safe Parking Program opened a new lot in Vista for overnight parking. This lot has 25 parking spaces for program participants and includes onsite services through case managers, lead case managers, and program supervisors. For more information, please review our FAQ available in English and Spanish.

The Safe Parking Program provides a welcoming environment, meaningful resources and tools, and dignified support to help families stabilize and transition back into permanent housing. With wraparound services focused on basic needs assistance, employment, family wellness, school success, financial education, credit repair, and most importantly, a return to housing.

Living in an RV or an Over-Sized Vehicle?

Our Safe Parking site in Mission Valley provides a safe and secure environment for RVs and other large vehicles where you can sleep without the risk of being ticketed.

For more than a year, Rudy and Maria lived in their van. They found safety, security, and community at our Safe Parking Program for nine months before transitioning to stable housing. Now they are living in an apartment they love in Otay Mesa and are celebrating their 45th wedding anniversary.

Our Case Management team is committed to addressing the comprehensive needs of individuals and families facing homelessness. Our supportive services include food assistance, employment development, emergency support, benefits access, and asset building.

JFS provides nutritional assistance to all Safe Parking guests while in our care. We invite you, along with your community group, friends, or colleagues to host a Safe Parking dinner. You and your group will experience hands-on the difference your donation makes as you serve with a smile.

Affordable, long-term housing is an issue in Sedona. Some local employees struggle to find housing they can afford and sleep in their car. Each night is a challenge to find a place to park and sleep, and they end up in the national forest, local parks, city streets or parking lots. To address this issue, the City is proposing a short-term, temporary strategy while the longer-term goal of building affordable housing developments is in process.

The proposed Safe Place to Park program would provide a legal parking area, necessary amenities, and connections to housing and appropriate supportive services for locally employed people who sleep in vehicles. The site will be managed by the Verde Valley Homeless Coalition, sited on 5 acres in the northwest corner of the 40-acre Cultural Park area and will accommodate up to 40 vehicles. The cost to operate the program may be grant-funded through the Arizona Department of Housing for up to two years.

SafePark is a leading authority in playground safety; providing initial audits, periodic inspections, maintenance and repair. We understand that there are no safe playgrounds, only safer playgrounds. We can help reduce the chance of an incident and help limit liability and potential litigation. SafePark provides easy to understand reports for safety audits, periodic inspections, safety surfacing impact attenuation testing, ADA and preventative maintenance programs.

Playground injuries are the leading cause of injury to children in child care and to children ages 5-14 in schools. In 2003 more 208,100 children 12 and under were treated in hospital emergency rooms at an estimated annual cost of $6.8 billion. It is estimated that one third of playground equipment related deaths and 75% of playground equipment related injuries occur on public playgrounds. Approximately 70% of playground equipment related injuries are caused by falls to the surfacing. The majority of these injuries take place on public playgrounds, including schools, childcare and park playgrounds. These statistics speak volumes regarding the need for SafePark Services. These statistics could be

reduced if playground owners/operators would follow our SAFEPARK steps shown below:

Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wyoming have adopted all or parts of CPSC or ASTM Standards.

A recent study found the rate of playground related injuries at North Carolina childcare centers dropped 22% after a law was passed requiring new play equipment and surfacing in childcare facilities to conform to CPSC guidelines.

According to the 2020 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count, vehicular homelessness represents approximately 39% (18,900+) of the total number of unsheltered individuals experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County.

The number of available parking spaces and capacity to accommodate RVs are subject to change and dependent on the make-up of vehicles in the parking lots. Interested individuals should contact service providers to confirm the current availability.

It is estimated that in every school district across the country, for every 10,000 students there are 20 families who have no other choice, but to sleep in their cars. That means there are about 65,000 families living in transition waiting for a permanent place to stay.

"Faith communities desire to respond to the growing reality that individuals, couples and families from our local communities are sleeping in their vehicles as the only option for housing.

We are supporting congregations who are opening their parking lots who are offering hospitality to those living in their cars. Our solution is simple. Local churches opening their parking lots to families who are living transitionally out of their vehicles.

Never approach wildlife

The animals in Yellowstone are wild and unpredictable, no matter how calm they appear to be. The safest (and often best) view of wildlife is from inside a car. Always stay at least 100 yards (91 m) away from bears and wolves, and at least 25 yards (23 m) away from all other animals, including bison and elk.

Never feed wildlife

Animals that become dependent on human food may become aggressive toward people and have to be killed. Keep all food, garbage, or other smelly items packed away when not in use.

Boardwalks and trails protect you and delicate thermal formations. Water in hot springs can cause severe or fatal burns, and scalding water underlies most of the thin, breakable crust around hot springs.

Never feed wildlife, even birds and squirrels. Animals that become dependent on human food may become aggressive toward people and have to be killed. Animals also carry diseases that can be transmitted to people. Be especially watchful around ravens: they can unzip or unfasten many different kinds of buckles and latches.

Bear spray is sold at gift shops, outdoor stores, service stations, and bookstores inside the park, as well as in local communities. Always select an EPA-approved product that is specifically designed to stop bears.

Bear spray is available for rent at Canyon Village in the kiosk located near the Canyon Visitor Education Center and at Old Faithful in the Yurt located south of the Yellowstone Tribal Heritage Center. For more information, visit Bear Aware.

Cow elk are especially fierce and protective around their calves in the spring. Around Mammoth Hot Springs, they often hide calves near cars or buildings. Be cautious when exiting buildings or approaching blind corners. In the fall, bull elk battle for access to cows and challenge other males during the rut. They also charge cars and people who get too close.

Wolves are not normally a danger to people, unless they become habituated to their presence and food (there has never been an attack in Yellowstone). Two habituated wolves have been killed in the park. Help us protect wolves in Yellowstone by:

Wildfires have left thousands of standing dead trees that can fall with little or no warning. In 2015, a falling tree killed someone on a hill near the Midway Geyser Basin. Avoid areas with large numbers of dead trees, and watch for dead trees along trails and roads, or in campsites and picnic areas.

The National Park Service follows CDC guidance to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Check locally, on the park website, and in the park apps for updates and changes in park operations. Thank you for helping to keep yourself and others safe and healthy.

Consistent with CDC guidance, visitors to Yellowstone National Park, regardless of vaccination status or community transmission levels, are required to wear a mask indoors, including, but not limited to, park visitor centers, administrative offices, lodges, gift shops, and restaurants; and outdoors where physical distancing cannot reasonably be maintained. Masks are required for everyone on all forms of public transportation.

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