City of Napa to Begin Taking Steps to Close and Remove Homeless Encampments from Kennedy Park

The City of Napa will begin taking steps to close and remove homeless encampments from Kennedy Park.

While the ability to remove homeless encampments was recently clarified by the Supreme Court in the Grants Pass v. Johnson case, the City is encouraged by the success of obtaining a $15 million Encampment Resolution Grant from the State of California to begin working towards closing homeless encampments by offering additional services and shelter capacity. The closure of encampments at Kennedy Park has been part of the plan since the City applied for the Encampment Resolution Grant program in April 2023.

The Encampment Resolution Grant provided the funds for the City of Napa to add over 50 non-congregate shelter beds with the goal of closing large homeless encampments at various properties in the City of Napa, including Kennedy Park.

An estimated 25 individuals remain camping in Kennedy Park. Many of these individuals have declined services at previous engagement points, and City officials hope that taking action to end camping in Kennedy Park will encourage engagement in available services and shelter beds. Services to those camping in Kennedy Park are provided by bilingual and bicultural staff with training specific to engagement in services. Shelter and housing navigation services are also bilingual and bicultural and are funded by local and state funds which do not require disclosure of citizenship or immigration status to participate in the programs.

The City's plan includes creating a small temporary camping location in Kennedy Park beginning in December 2024. Campers will be required to relocate to this area or leave Kennedy Park before the City begins to remove existing encampments. The City of Napa will provide standardized equipment portable restrooms, hand washing stations, storage of personal belongings, and security services in a designated area of Kennedy Park through March 2025. Outreach services will regularly visit the site to offer enrollment in shelter and housing navigation services. The four-month transition period will provide ample time for individuals currently camping in Kennedy Park to obtain a shelter bed or identify other long-term housing accommodations.

"The City of Napa has had the goal of closing Kennedy Park to camping and restoring the encampment area back to a park amenity for the entire community to utilize and enjoy. The support of the State of California via the Encampment Resolution Grant has supported this goal, as have the voters of the City of Napa with the likely passage of Measure G which will provide ongoing funding for opportunities like improving our park amenities and addressing the issue of homelessness in our community. We cannot begin to plan for the future of Kennedy Park without first addressing the existing encampments and the needs of those living unsheltered in the park," said Mayor Scott Sedgley.