Homelessness

Homeless Working Group
In the fall of 2022, the City of Santee established a Homeless Working Group. This group is comprised of representatives from the City of Santee, San Diego County Sherriff's Department, Santee Fire Department and various partner agencies. The group meets every month to collaborate on ways to provide resources to those experiencing homelessness, share data, test ideas, develop public information materials and plan for the future. 

Encampment Management & Cleanups
In April 2024, we hired a Human Services & Open Space Coordinator to assist with the homeless encampment abatement activities in partnership with local law enforcement, the County of San Diego (Department of Homeless Solutions and Equitable Communities) and private contractors for required noticing, as well as coordinating the scheduling of abandoned encampment removal, property collection and cataloging. From April 2024 - January 2025, 100 homeless encampments have been posted. Our Human Services & Open Space Coordinator conducts weekly checks on known encampment locations and looks through the San Diego River Bottom to identify new encampments.

Once an encampment has been identified, they are posted with a 72-hour notice to vacate. After 72 hours, the camp is abated using partner organizations like Alpha Project. Personal items deemed valuable are stored for 90 days. Weekly checks are done on prior encampment locations to see if an encampment has been re-established. If an encampment has been re-established, then the notification process starts over.

The open space coordinator and our partner organizations offer resources to individuals experiencing homelessness. Our Homeless Working Group Meetings serve as a time for us to collaborate with community organizations to find strategies for monitoring encampments and offering support to those who need it and will accept help.

The San Diego River Park Foundation conducts monthly river corridor cleanups where they remove litter and debris from San Diego River and its tributaries. They regularly clean sections of the River that run through Santee including Forester Creek and Mast Park.

Encampment Grant & Partnerships
The City has been awarded a joint Encampment Grant with the County of San Diego, the City of San Diego and Caltrans.

The City actively participates in the Encampments & Homeless Census, Point-In-Time Count, hosted by the County of San Diego

Ordinances & Policies
In 2023, the City of Santee city council enacted the San Diego River Corridor Ordinance (§7.20.100). The goal of this ordinance is to mitigate the threat of fire, flooding, water pollution, habitat destruction and other potential causes of destruction and damage in order to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public.

Funding Allocation
As of October 2023, the City has allocated $536,000 towards homelessness efforts.

San Diego County Sheriff's Department - Santee Station efforts

The SDSO collaborate with the Santee's Open Space Coordinator on a weekly basis.  They identify illegal transient encampments and post a 72 hour Notice to Vacate.  We return after the 72 hour period has passed and have a law enforcement presence during the subsequent clean up and collaborate with city personnel and Alpha Project to clean up and store property in a legal manner, allowing for affected persons to reclaim their property at a later date.

SDSO communicates with Caltrans and California Highway Patrol to conduct clean ups in areas of their jurisdiction that are adjacent to the Santee and work with SDSO County HART team to conduct clean ups in their affected areas that are County property but adjacent to the city of Santee.
SDSO also conducts arrest warrant sweeps of river bottom areas along with 72 hour postings and subsequent clean up.

Offering/providing resources to homeless persons.

In 2024, the SDSO began Utilizing ATV's to locate and identify illegal transient camps. This enables deputies to cover more ground in less time.
They also work with various Public Safety and Fire Agencies to conduct difficult clean ups, such as the CalFire Swiftwater Rescue Team to post a notice to vacate on an island within the river.

SDSO issue regular citations of the city's illegal ignition device as outlined in the San Diego River Bottom Ordinance and is in frequent communication with the City Attorney's Office to ensure successful enforcement of the ordinance The SDSO also enforces a zero tolerance policy of illicit drug use or excessive alcohol inebriation in the affected areas

Public & Private Partnerships - City staff work with the Sheriff's Department, HOPE team, PATH San Diego and East County Transitional Living Center (ECTLC) to provide resources that are available to those willing to accept assistance.

MTS Trolley Enforcement Pilot Program - The Cities of Santee and El Cajon have partnered with the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) to run a pilot program to enforce ticket purchase requirements to ride the Trolley.

Additional Measures

The Sheriffs department utilize All-Terrain Vehicles to access harder to reach areas faster. Additionally, during encampment postings and cleanups, SDSO conducts arrest warrant sweeps & enforces laws and ordinances regarding activity in the San Diego River Bed.

The City coordinates with our Fire Department and other public safety agencies for challenging cleanup operations. 

Report an Encampment
If you would like to report an encampment, please use the MySanteeCA app (available on both Apple and Android phones), tap on the "Service Requests" icon and then scroll down and tap on "Homeless Outreach/Encampments"

Resources
2-1-1 San Diego - Housing, homeless, food assistance and other resources are available online or by calling 2-1-1.

PATH San Diego - Enhanced outreach programs and supportive housing services.

East County Transitional Living Center - Emergency shelter up to 28 days.

Crisis House - Diversion and outreach services to individuals and families currently experiencing homelessness. Assisting with housing navigation, deposits, first month’s rent, utility arrears, and more.

ECAssist - Provides housing, food, and other resource information specific to East County.

Santee Food Bank – Meal assistance.

Homelessness is not a crime. If you want to help, there are organizations you can volunteer with or donate to. If a homeless person appears to be committing a crime, or is a harm to themselves or others, you should call 9-1-1.

We encourage business owners to contact the Santee Sheriff’s Department to request a trespass agreement.

Santee Sheriff's Business Office: 619-956-4000, however if it is an emergency, call 9-1-1.

We encourage business owners to contact the Santee Sheriff’s Department to request a trespass agreement.

Do not engage with any persons living in the encampment. Please report encampments via the MySanteeCA app on your cell phone (available for Apple and Android devices)

Panhandling is prohibited in the City of Santee (7.32.020 Aggressive Solicitation). Call the Sheriff's Non-Emergency Dispatch at 858-565-5200.

If any situation becomes violent or uncomfortable, or you are in need of emergency aid, call 9-1-1.

The City of Santee works with a variety of organizations (San Diego River Park Foundation, East County Transitional Living Center, and Crisis House) that need volunteers. Or instead, make a donation to one of the many organizations serving homeless persons.

Persons occupying RV’s on the streets may be homeless. Resources are available to those who want assistance. The Santee Municipal Code requires recreational vehicles parked on City streets to be moved at least 300 feet every 72 hours.