Residents & Local Businesses
The City of National City shares the passion of our business leaders, residents, homeless service providers, and advocate partners to provide meaningful solutions to both the immediate crisis of homelessness in our community and the on-going need for permanent housing opportunities.
Given the limited resources of the City, we are committed to making sound choices, setting policies, funding programs, and creating local partnerships that best align with the needs of our homeless community while still providing core services to the City.
We recognize that no one approach or solution will end homelessness in National City, and we will continue to look for new opportunities.
Improving Conditions on the Streets
City personnel coordinates closely with partner agencies, including the South Region Homeless Task Force, the San Diego Regional Task Force on Homelessness, McAlister Institute, and SBCS. The City also works with property owners to address and clean up any conditions whenever and wherever they may occur, consistent with the requirements of local law. The City has and will continue to support the efforts of many other non-profit partners and volunteer groups throughout the community.
Addressing Concerns
If there's something that you're specifically concerned about, like trash or alley issues, submit a service request with a detailed description at www.nationalcityca.gov/service or call 619-336-
If you run a local business and would like to connect with the local police about keeping the area safe, call the National City Non-Emergency 619-
If there is suspicious activity going on, connect to officers in your neighborhood by calling the Police Dispatch at 619- or visit www.nationalcityPD???
If there is a medical emergency or you feel threatened in any way, call 9-1-1.
Why Protect Your Property?
Protecting your property from unwelcomed trespassing increases the safety of your property and the community. Proactively preventing trespassing can reduce the risk of criminal activity, fires, illegal camping and lodging on your property and improve safety for your neighborhood and community.
How to Deter Trespassing
Trespassing is defined as entering the property of another without permission or the right to do so. Here are a number of ways to reduce trespassing:
For Residential Property:
Increase lighting
Maintain landscaping
Trim overgrown trees and bushes
Install landscaping that discourages sitting
Install fencing around the property
Post "No Trespassing" signs
Hire private security
For Vacant Residential Property:
Ask neighbors to monitor the property
Hire private security to monitor the property
Use timers to turn on indoor and outdoor lights
Maintain landscaping
Secure trash or recycling containers
For Commercial Properties:
Lock dumpsters, trash and recycle bins
Design public spaces to discourage misuse
Have plants at sidewalk level. Raised planters should be at least 4′ high and uncomfortable for seating
Post and enforce rules of conduct for public use
Install surveillance cameras to cover public areas
Do not offer food or money. It may encourage more panhandling. If you are encouraged to help the homeless, it is better to contribute to local charities, missions, food banks, or social service organizations. For more information on where to donate visit www.echtf.org
Note:
Some improvements to lighting, landscaping, and fencing are subject to certain Municipal Code standards. Please check with the City’s Planning team before making improvements at 619-336- or email at planning@nationalcityca.gov
What Is Illegal Lodging?
If the individual is sleeping or setting up camp on the property and the property owner, agent, or representative did not authorize them to be there, an illegal lodging violation exists.
Section 647E of the California Penal Code states that to prosecute under this section the criteria is anyone:
Who lodges in any building, structure, vehicle, or place, whether public or private, without the permission of the owner or person entitled to the possession or in control of it.
Regular law enforcement interaction is often not realistic, but scheduling periodic meeting with tenants and law enforcement can be helpful to discuss preventive solutions and education towards long term solutions. These solutions include organizations which track homeless individuals to help solve their situations, which may connect them with community outreach programs.
Properties That Can File An Illegal Lodging Form
Properties that are closed to the general public at all times. For example, undeveloped land and/or vacant commercial properties.
Commercial properties that are closed during certain hours can file an Illegal Lodging Form limited to the hours when the business is closed.
Vacant residential properties. This is a single family residence (private home) only.
Do You Think Your Property Is Eligible For Enforcement?
Click here to file an Illegal Lodging Enforcement Letter or for more information call Samantha Tackett at (619) 441-5526.
