Sacramento City Council members are set to review a proposed ordinance that could limit the number of homeless shelter beds in the River District, which currently has the highest concentration of such resources in the city. The River District, which encompasses the Railyards neighborhood and the area north of Mansion Flats, has grown in recent years. “In the last five years, we’ve added probably 1,000 units of housing,” said Devin Strecker, executive director of the River District, who is responsible for recruiting and retaining businesses. Strecker emphasized the need for balance in having resources for the unhoused while keeping the area attractive for homeowners and businesses, some of which have been in the district for 100 years. But he also noted that one of the long-time businesses, Blue Diamond, is closing its Sacramento facility. In addressing homelessness efforts, Strecker said the River District has nearly 526 shelter beds, the highest concentration in the city.”We have the highest concentration of those services here in our less than two-square-mile area, Strecker said while also emphasizing that there are two council districts without any homeless shelter beds. District 4 Council Member Phil Pluckebaum is proposing a cap on these resources, limiting the total number of beds to 526. This means existing shelters cannot expand capacity and would need council approval to replace or add any beds if another shelter wants to fill that gap.The ordinance also prevents the establishment of new social service providers in the area without council approval.If these rules are broken, the city could take legal action, according to the proposal.Those developing the district argue that the measure is necessary to balance helping those in need while keeping business owners and residents satisfied. “When you have one shelter here and another shelter here, it’s really easy for the person in the middle to say, ‘Well, I can’t do anything else with my property now. So, let’s just make it a shelter and pretty soon everything’s a homeless shelter,'” Strecker said. The proposal is scheduled to be presented to the council’s Law and Legislative Committee on Tuesday.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
Sacramento City Council members are set to review a proposed ordinance that could limit the number of homeless shelter beds in the River District, which currently has the highest concentration of such resources in the city.
The River District, which encompasses the Railyards neighborhood and the area north of Mansion Flats, has grown in recent years.
“In the last five years, we’ve added probably 1,000 units of housing,” said Devin Strecker, executive director of the River District, who is responsible for recruiting and retaining businesses.
Strecker emphasized the need for balance in having resources for the unhoused while keeping the area attractive for homeowners and businesses, some of which have been in the district for 100 years. But he also noted that one of the long-time businesses, Blue Diamond, is closing its Sacramento facility.
In addressing homelessness efforts, Strecker said the River District has nearly 526 shelter beds, the highest concentration in the city.
“We have the highest concentration of those services here in our less than two-square-mile area, Strecker said while also emphasizing that there are two council districts without any homeless shelter beds.
District 4 Council Member Phil Pluckebaum is proposing a cap on these resources, limiting the total number of beds to 526. This means existing shelters cannot expand capacity and would need council approval to replace or add any beds if another shelter wants to fill that gap.
The ordinance also prevents the establishment of new social service providers in the area without council approval.
If these rules are broken, the city could take legal action, according to the proposal.
Those developing the district argue that the measure is necessary to balance helping those in need while keeping business owners and residents satisfied.
“When you have one shelter here and another shelter here, it’s really easy for the person in the middle to say, ‘Well, I can’t do anything else with my property now. So, let’s just make it a shelter and pretty soon everything’s a homeless shelter,'” Strecker said.
The proposal is scheduled to be presented to the council’s Law and Legislative Committee on Tuesday.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel