SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — Vista is adding its name to the growing list of cities around the county looking to enact an unsafe camping ban.
The mayor said the city will provide housing to those who want it, but he said a lot of people decline that offer. He believes this will get them the help they need.
Jonathan, who admits to having a drug addiction, has been on and off the streets for years.
“Homeless is hard on your body and your mind,” he said.
The 65-year-old voluntarily went from living on the streets of Vista to the city's new Buena Creek Navigation Center. It has 48 beds for people experiencing homelessness with services to help them stay off.
But Vista's Mayor said Jonathan is the exception.
“When we offer shelter to people living on the street — there's a 94% decline rate and we have documented the offer of shelter more than 20 times for some people,” Mayor John Franklin said.
He believes there are more than 100 people living on the streets of Vista right now. This, despite the offer of a safe place to stay with only a few roommates, free meals, a shower, and hope for a better life.
“That's a symptom of mental illness because no rational, healthy mind would decline living in a safe, warm place in favor of living on the streets,” Mayor Franklin said.
For him, an unsafe camping ban is a win/win situation. He said it gets unsheltered residents the help they need and protects children in his city. The Mayor said students shared frightening stories that he relayed to leaders in Sacramento.
“Somebody accosted me on my way to school. I saw somebody expose themselves. The teacher who said I had to clean urine and feces off the front doorstep of the school every day," he recalled being told.
Will the camping ban work?
Jonathan said some people just like to be homeless, but not him. He's been sober for more than 3 weeks now and said this shelter has been a godsend.
“I think it's awesome,” Jonathan said with a smile. “I think this place is doing great work. I think these people are on the cutting edge of what I think my savior would be doing.”
The Mayor is hoping to get the unsafe camping ban passed into law by the end of June.
WATCH RELATED: Downtown San Diego elementary school sees difference after camping ban (March 12, 2024)