Caltrans pauses ‘sweeps’ of homeless camps but city of Sacramento continues

October 18, 2021 | Janelle Salanga

Caltrans stopped encampment clean-ups in order to find solutions to help homeless people relocate.

City of Sacramento sets up department to respond to nonviolent emergencies

October 5, 2021 | Megan Manata | Vicki Gonzalez

Since 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.

State Government

Sacramento County Extends Motel Program Sheltering Hundreds Of Homeless Residents Through November

August 24, 2021 | Chris Nichols

Sacramento 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.

Sacramento’s Plan To Build 20 New Shelter Sites For Homeless Residents Gets Approval, Draws Criticism

August 13, 2021 | Janelle Salanga

It greenlights 20 sites for various housing options meant to serve Sacramento’s unhoused population. But Sacramento community members want the plan to emphasize safety and prioritization of affordable housing.

Sacramento Mayor Releases Plans To Shelter Homeless Residents At 20 Sites

August 5, 2021 | Sarah Mizes-Tan | Janelle Salanga

The plan would expand Sacramento’s housing capacity for unhoused people through a variety of options. But questions remain about the equitable distribution of sites and what happens after people cycle through temporary housing.

As Sacramento Summers Heat Up, Community Members Help To Keep Neighbors Cool

July 28, 2021 | Janelle Salanga

The city’s cooling centers have been underutilized during past heat waves, but some community members say that’s because the centers don’t cast a wide enough net around outlying neighborhoods. They’re stepping up to run their own.

Amid Sacramento’s Highest Temperatures, Water Needed For City’s Unhoused Population

July 16, 2021 | Janelle Salanga

Clean, cold drinking water is an essential need during Northern California’s heat waves. But for Sacramento’s unhoused population, getting it isn’t always an easy task, so community members step in.

Sacramento Opening Cooling Centers As Another Wave Of Dangerous Heat Arrives

July 8, 2021 | Chris Nichols

The centers will be open through the weekend when temperatures are expected to peak across the Sacramento region, ranging from 100 degrees up to 115 degrees.

Despite The Heat, Few Take Advantage Of Sacramento Cooling Centers

June 18, 2021 | Chris Nichols

Altogether, about 30 people showed up to city and county cooling facilities on the first two days of the heat wave. Advocates say more must be done to advertise the facilities and provide transportation.

State Government

‘I’m Going To Be Here For A While’: One Man’s Journey From The Streets To A New Home

June 17, 2021 | Chris Nichols

Tens of thousands of homeless Californians are moving on from state-funded Project Roomkey motels where they took shelter during the worst of the pandemic. But as of June, only about 30% had been placed in permanent or temporary housing.