Afghanistan War veteran Tommy McKee is shown at his home in one of several camps located just outside of the John F. Kennedy neighborhood. Residents successfully blocked a non-profit's effort to create a tiny home village for veterans like McKee even though it would have been a short walk north of the homeless encampment.
San Diego, California – The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to reallocate nearly $5 million from a stalled homeless RV parking project in Lakeside to fund sleeping cabins and other emergency housing services in Lemon Grove. The decision marks a major shift in the county’s ongoing strategy to combat homelessness with nontraditional shelter options.
By a 4-0 vote, the board approved diverting $4.9 million in unused funds from the Willow RV Senior and Family Parking project, which was put on hold last year. The bulk of the money—$3.5 million—will support the first year of operations for the Troy Street Sleeping Cabins project in Lemon Grove. The site will feature 60 to 70 sleeping cabins and is expected to serve up to 140 people annually.
“This is a compassionate way of addressing homelessness,” said Supervisor Joel Anderson, who co-sponsored the proposal with Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe. “We’re not storing people—we’re restoring their lives and giving them back the future they once held.”
The sleeping cabins will provide more than just a roof. According to county officials, residents will receive wraparound services including case management, meals, hygiene facilities, transportation, and housing navigation support. Security will be provided around the clock, and no drug or alcohol use will be allowed on site.
Supervisor Montgomery Steppe, who lives near the site, emphasized her commitment to the community and the importance of creating positive interventions for vulnerable populations.
“I will continue to visit this site and ensure it becomes a positive addition to our communities,” she said. “These projects are going to provide a pathway to stable housing.”
The remaining $868,568 from the Lakeside project will be redirected to the county’s Regional Homeless Assistance Program, which provides emergency motel stays and services for unsheltered individuals.
The Troy Street site, located on a state-owned lot near Sweetwater Road, faced initial backlash from some Lemon Grove residents, similar to the now-defunct Spring Valley cabin project it replaced. The Spring Valley plan was originally backed by a $10 million state grant and would have housed 150 people but was scrapped due to local opposition.
Construction on the Lemon Grove site is expected to begin this summer, with the goal of opening by 2026. Total construction is estimated at $11 million, funded through federal COVID-19 relief, with operational costs expected to be covered by RHAP funding moving forward.
“This is about real, meaningful support for our unsheltered neighbors,” Anderson said.
