More cabins for the homeless who come to El Cajon-San Diego Union-Tribune

Three months after agreeing to continue a program indefinitely that provides small cabins to the homeless and children in El Cajon, the municipal council seeks means to extend the village.

Six emergency bedrooms have been at the Meridian Baptist Church in El Cajon since 2020 and have so far served 31 women and 18 children. Amikas, the non -profit organization that has built the cabins and manages the program, is interested in adding four other cabins.

On Tuesday, the municipal council agreed to immarate staff members to analyze the means to authorize more cabins on the property, perhaps by a change of zoning or a new policy.

“I think they have more than proven the success of the program,” said Council member Steve Goble, who first brought the program to the municipal council in 2020. “Absolutely, I support the increase in the number of cabins to 10. I suggest going to the stages of perhaps two then two.”

The cabins opened its doors at the end of 2022 as a pilot program initially scheduled for last December, but the municipal council of this month raised the condition, allowing it to continue indefinitely under an administrative zoning permit.

Unlike the village of Chula Vista d’Otay, which has 65 white cabins and 64 square feet, the six squares of 144 square feet of Meridian Baptist Church resemble small houses with electricity and porches.

Speaking before the municipal council of El Cajon on Tuesday, the treasurer of Amikas, Lisa Kogan, said that the stability and the feeling of security provided by the cabins helped their customers to overcome the homeless.

“These cabins change their lives and save lives,” she said.

Women can work on their curriculum vitae to find jobs, meet therapists and connect to permanent accommodation on the site, said Kogan, adding that the program also benefits children.

“A 13-year-old boy started at school after not attending for three years,” she said. “He and his mother also lived in their car. He was so excited to start his new school. She shared with me that he wanted to be like other children. ”