Sacramento took nearly a year to create a new ‘safe ground’ homeless shelter. We look at why it takes so long.February 8, 2022 | Chris NicholsCity leaders pledged by January they would open two new Safe Ground camping sites and a permanent respite center, in addition to various other shelters that are part of a larger homelessness plan. By the end of the month, none had opened.
City buys 102 acres in South Sacramento for affordable homes, plans to convert downtown hotel to homeless housingJanuary 21, 2022 | Chris NicholsCouncilmember Mai Vang plans to hold community listening sessions to help determine the best use of the South Sacramento property. Early ideas include adding a new park.
Sacramento wants to move a group of homeless residents to a new riverfront camp. Some worry it will flood.December 31, 2021 | Chris NicholsThe city-sanctioned Safe Ground camp would be the first in Sacramento to open on private property. It would close after three months.
Several Sacramento respite centers open after being closed during first night of rainstormDecember 13, 2021 | Chris NicholsUnhoused people camped outside City Hall on Sunday night as strong winds and rain descended on the Sacramento region. Officials had opened the building’s lobby as a warming center late last week, but closed it Saturday morning.
Sacramento to open warming centers Thursday and Friday nightsDecember 9, 2021 | Chris NicholsThe city will open two centers starting Thursday night to provide shelter for homeless residents and those without heat as a cold front arrives.
State GovernmentIs ‘right to housing’ a solution to California homelessness?December 6, 2021In the new episode of “Gimme Shelter: The California Housing Crisis Podcast.” CalMatters’ Manuela Tobias and the Los Angeles Times’ Liam Dillon interview Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg on his “right to housing” proposal to reduce homelessness.
State GovernmentWill California’s plan for clearing homeless camps work?November 16, 2021Gov. Newsom says the situation with homeless encampments is unacceptable. The state housing agency is funding more services, while Caltrans is clearing some camps. But advocates are wary.
Caltrans pauses ‘sweeps’ of homeless camps but city of Sacramento continuesOctober 18, 2021 | Janelle SalangaCaltrans stopped encampment clean-ups in order to find solutions to help homeless people relocate.
City of Sacramento sets up department to respond to nonviolent emergenciesOctober 5, 2021 | Megan Manata | Vicki GonzalezSince even before the pandemic began in 2020, the unhoused population in the state has grown. The city of Sacramento is working on using social workers instead of police for crisis calls. Listen /Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
State GovernmentSacramento County Extends Motel Program Sheltering Hundreds Of Homeless Residents Through NovemberAugust 24, 2021 | Chris NicholsSacramento County supervisors voted Tuesday to accept $5.3 million in state funds to extend Project Roomkey for three months. The program was set to end this month, but about 360 homeless residents remain at the motels.
