By Jorge Casuso

July 31, 2025 -- An increase in the number of homeless individuals living in vehicles is Santa Monica is prompting complaints from neighbors and posing challenges for police, according to the Police Department's weekly blog.

During the week of July 13, SMPD's Community Engagement Team (CET) addressed two situations involving "vehicle dwellings" parked on Santa Monica streets, SMPD's "The Blue Notebook" reported.

The complaints come as the number of those living in cars, vans and RVs rose this year -- from 63 individuals counted in last year's homeless census to 84 this year ("Santa Monica Sees Increase in Homeless Count," July 24, 2025).

During the seven-day stretch this month, officers addressed an "ongoing vehicle dwelling issue" at two locations in the city.

In one, the CET officers "continued efforts to resolve a long-running concern about a woman living in a vehicle on the 1800 block of 21st Street," according to the blog.

Four Neighborhood Resource Officers (NROs) "coordinated outreach with multiple agencies" -- SMPD's Homeless Liaison Program team, the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health and the Salvation Army.

"All responded to offer the individual services," police officials said. "A mental health evaluation was conducted and a shelter bed was offered, but the subject declined assistance after she did not meet criteria for a mental health hold."

According to police officials, "The purpose of a (mental health) hold is to allow certain people acting on behalf of the state (including police officers) to detain and transport someone involuntarily (if necessary) and deliver that person into the care of a hospital for evaluation and treatment."

"CET members met with a number of frustrated neighbors to explain the legal limitations police face in this situation (a challenge seen citywide) and to outline the steps being taken," the blog stated.

A Neighborhood Resource Officer also brought in the Traffic Services division "to clarify parking enforcement options for the vehicle."

Officers will "continue to monitor the situation closely and collaborate with the HLP team on any further interventions," according to the blog.

In a separate complaint, the NRO addressed community concerns about people living in vehicles near Marine Park.

The officer "conducted late-night patrol checks and located the suspected vehicles (which were unoccupied at the time)," the blog reported.

The NRO also convened a strategy meeting via Zoom with the Homeless Liaison Program (HLP) team "to develop long-term solutions."

"The group is gathering information to present potential remedies (such as designated parking or services) to the City Council."

The City has been deploying "outreach teams" to connect homeless individuals living in their vehicles to safe parking programs in Culver City and the greater Los Angeles area, City officials said.

The complaints were among the 704 calls for service involving homeless individuals during the one-week stretch, bringing the total for the year to 17,226.