Sacramento County Homelessness Digest

Tenants from around California converged on the State Office Building in Sacramento to implore lawmakers to pass SB 567, also known as the Homelessness Prevention Act.

After years of threatening to do so, Sacramento County has cleared the Bannon Island encampment of roughly 30 homeless seniors. In February, after a rainstorm flooded the island, the county announced it would permanently clear the camp.

The future of homeless services in Citrus Heights is in question as a key nonprofit organization faces closure at the end of June. After Sacramento County announced it would not renew contracts with Sacramento Self Help Housing, the organization announced it would be closing—which will have far-reaching effects in Citrus Heights.

Lisa Bates has been the CEO of Sacramento Steps Forward since 2019. The nonprofit organization is “responsible for leading efforts around coordinating a response to ending homelessness.”

Fast food is the largest employer of homeless workers in California, with one of 17 unhoused individuals in the state working in the industry. That is according to a new report released by the Economic Roundtable.

California cities of every size lack shelter beds for the state’s growing homeless population. A new bill would force local governments to do more, and punish ones that don’t plan housing for homeless Californians.

Officials broke ground today on an affordable housing project in south Natomas that will also provide on-site wraparound services for people experiencing homelessness.

According to a new report, more than 1,000 students that attend school throughout EGUSD are homeless. This includes students who are not currently in the custody of parents and are considered to be “unaccompanied youth.”

With Measure E now in effect, Elk Grove’s new total sales tax rate is 8.75%. The Elk Grove Citizen recently asked residents what they thought of the increase, and found many are in favor of it with hopes it will resolve homeless issues throughout the city.

Democratic voters in California cities are pushing mayors and city councils to clear homeless camps. Leaders are responding with new ordinances, from Sacramento to San Diego.

With more and more residents voicing concern about Galt's homeless population, a new Mobile Crisis Team has been formed to deal with mental health situations. A Sacramento County social worker and Galt police officer recently shared recent developments.

Folsom is known as an upper-middle class suburb with great schools and beautiful homes, but it too shows symptoms of the countywide homelessness crisis.

The Board of Supervisors and the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency are expanding Project Homekey with two new hotels. Updates will be presented on April 3 and 13.

The number of homeless people sleeping outdoors has decreased by 40% in the past five months. The Downtown Sacramento Partnership in its February census counted 120 unhoused people downtown, a decrease from 200 in 2022.

Sacramento’s city and county governments—and the local nonprofit First Step Communities—teamed up to put 15 travel-trailers in Miller Park to shelter people who are homeless.

Citrus Heights Vice Mayor Bret Daniels, commenting on the cleanup of homeless camps near Sylvan Oaks Library, said residents should take full advantage of the city's reporting tools and new response team to help clean up the city.

A new 15-bed facility for adults aged 60-plus who are experiencing homelessness or housing instability will open soon through the county's Adult Protective Services.

Multiple commenters, including local business owners, demanded action at the Jan. 17 meeting of the Galt City Council, saying the presence and behavior of homeless people had made them and their employees feel unsafe.

Mark Jackson, CEO and founder of St. Martin Foundation, hopes to help build a facility to house homeless men in Elk Grove. His mission is to reduce homelessness among males transitioning from alcohol addiction recovery programs or incarceration.

Annual candlelight vigil held for Sacramento homeless with ceremonial reading of names.

California accounted for 30% of the country’s homeless population in 2022, despite making up less than 12% of the total population, according to federal data. It was also home to 50% of the country’s unsheltered people, or those living in places such as streets, cars or parks.

An innovative Davis project, set to open early next year, will be the first of its kind: a vertical tiny home village.

Funds marked for temporary facilities have been reallocated as the city tries to keep pace with the accelerating homelessness crisis.

The Homeless Assistance Resource Team of Folsom is readying winter shelter for the unhoused. HART seeks volunteer trainees for intaking applicants for the program, which will run Jan. 8 through April.

On Nov. 15, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the purchase of a $23 million piece of real estate that will ultimately serve as the county’s third and largest, to date, Safe Stay Community.

Sacramento Board of Supervisors fights homelessness by purchasing a 129,000-square-foot warehouse as a third Stay Safe Center: room for 140 cabins inside with space for 50 RVs in the parking lot.

Elk Grove has been sued for illegally rejecting a complex for the homeless in Old Town Elk Grove. Oak Rose Apts LP alleges the city stalled its project, defying a state-ordered mandate. Many Old Town Elk Grove business owners expressed fear of such a plan.

Candidates for Citrus Heights City Council weighed in on homelessness in answers to a questionnaire sent out by the Sentinel. Solutions included constructing tiny homes on Sayonara Drive, enforcing ordinances on camping, and seeking more funding.

It’s a common misconception that a physical address is required to cast a ballot. For individuals living in shelters or encampments, California offers several options for participating in local elections.

Sleeping cabin construction at Sacramento County’s new “Safe Stay Community” has officially begun. The new project, located at 8144 Florin Road, will have 100 sleeping cabins to shelter persons experiencing homelessness.

Sacramento County supervisors voted to advance two anti-camping ordinances at the Aug. 10 board of supervisors meeting. It will be officially approved on Aug. 23.

Supervisors vowed that the ordinances would only be enforced when necessary. However, the final approval of the two ordinances could lead to the clearing of homeless encampments.