New safe camping site opening in Sacramento’s River District will include 100 tent spaces

A new Safe Camping site in Sacramento’s River District is set to open on Wednesday, creating space for up to 100 tents as city leaders continue efforts to address homelessness.City leaders said the site is designed to provide immediate shelter while helping people transition into permanent housing.Mayor Kevin McCarty, city staff and local leaders toured the completed site on Tuesday at 291 Sequoia Pacific Boulevard and discussed how it fits into Sacramento’s broader homeless response strategy.The opening comes as the city also responds to a recently released audit examining the costs and outcomes of Sacramento’s homeless shelter programs.City officials said the River District location was selected because it is already an area where many people are experiencing homelessness and where services are concentrated.“This is a site really centered where folks have been experiencing homelessness for decades,” Sacramento City Councilmember Phil Pluckebaum said. “The idea is to get folks off the street immediately in this neighborhood and start transitioning them into services so that they can start moving toward permanent supportive housing.”Officials said the site is intended to serve people who may not be ready to move into traditional indoor shelter settings.“There are a lot of folks that find confined spaces to be stressful or have PTSD about being indoors,” Pluckebaum said. “This is a step for them to stabilize, have a place to store belongings, receive mail and receive services.”Pluckebaum acknowledged concerns from neighbors who say homeless services have become concentrated in the River District.“Neighbors are concerned about these types of sites,” he said. “There are four or five different homeless service sites already within a few blocks of this location.”Still, city leaders point out that the city needs additional shelter options while more permanent housing projects move forward.“We cannot produce enough shelter fast enough,” Pluckebaum said. “So we are trying to produce absolutely as much at the lowest price point that we can.”The long-term goal is to move people from stabilization and support services into permanent supportive housing.“The idea is that you get someone here, you stabilize them … and then you start getting them enrolled for real permanent supportive housing,” Pluckebaum said.The new Safe Camping site will feature 24-7 security and a curfew to limit the impact on the neighborhood.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. —

A new Safe Camping site in Sacramento’s River District is set to open on Wednesday, creating space for up to 100 tents as city leaders continue efforts to address homelessness.

City leaders said the site is designed to provide immediate shelter while helping people transition into permanent housing.

Mayor Kevin McCarty, city staff and local leaders toured the completed site on Tuesday at 291 Sequoia Pacific Boulevard and discussed how it fits into Sacramento’s broader homeless response strategy.

The opening comes as the city also responds to a recently released audit examining the costs and outcomes of Sacramento’s homeless shelter programs.

City officials said the River District location was selected because it is already an area where many people are experiencing homelessness and where services are concentrated.

“This is a site really centered where folks have been experiencing homelessness for decades,” Sacramento City Councilmember Phil Pluckebaum said. “The idea is to get folks off the street immediately in this neighborhood and start transitioning them into services so that they can start moving toward permanent supportive housing.”

Officials said the site is intended to serve people who may not be ready to move into traditional indoor shelter settings.

“There are a lot of folks that find confined spaces to be stressful or have PTSD about being indoors,” Pluckebaum said. “This is a step for them to stabilize, have a place to store belongings, receive mail and receive services.”

Pluckebaum acknowledged concerns from neighbors who say homeless services have become concentrated in the River District.

“Neighbors are concerned about these types of sites,” he said. “There are four or five different homeless service sites already within a few blocks of this location.”

Still, city leaders point out that the city needs additional shelter options while more permanent housing projects move forward.

“We cannot produce enough shelter fast enough,” Pluckebaum said. “So we are trying to produce absolutely as much at the lowest price point that we can.”

The long-term goal is to move people from stabilization and support services into permanent supportive housing.

“The idea is that you get someone here, you stabilize them … and then you start getting them enrolled for real permanent supportive housing,” Pluckebaum said.

The new Safe Camping site will feature 24-7 security and a curfew to limit the impact on the neighborhood.

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