By Sacramento City Express

The Sacramento City Council on Dec. 9 approved four streamlined contracts for programs serving transitional aged youth (TAY) experiencing homelessness.

The contracts, which total $1.3 million, fund Waking the Village’s Village Youth Shelter Program, Wind Youth Services’ Common Ground Shelter Program, Sacramento LGBT Community Center’s Short-Term Transitional Emergency Program, and the LGBT Center’s Transitional Living Program.

The City is using State of California Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) grant funds to pay for the contracts, which run through Sept. 30, 2026.

“TAY shelters are an integral part of the City’s response to homeless,” said Brian Pedro, director of the Department of Community Response (DCR), which manages the contracts. “This funding reinforces the City’s strategic approach to serving people experiencing homelessness in a compassionate and fiscally responsible manner.”

The recent contract negotiations with the TAY shelter operators reflect the significant reduction in homelessness funding the City receives from the State, Pedro said.

The City’s most recent HHAP funding was reduced by 40% from the previous allocation, in part because the City experienced a decrease in the number of people experiencing homelessness in the 2024 homeless census known as the Point-in-Time (PIT) count.

Considering the State’s funding reduction – as well as the City’s current fiscal outlook – DCR has prioritized preserving shelter-bed capacity by reducing per-night sheltering costs, Pedro said. This work has been consistent over the past year across shelters in the City’s portfolio.

The streamlining of the TAY contracts brings the programs in line with a more sustainable per-capita cost, Pedro said.

“We deeply appreciate the collaboration from our shelter partners as we work to maximize all efficiencies and continue to help as many people as possible,” Pedro said.

Family shelter and outreach contracts

The City Council on Dec. 9 also approved new contracts for the City’s Outreach and Engagement Center (OEC) on Auburn Boulevard and for street outreach workers.

A one-year $2.9 million agreement with Hope Cooperative was approved to continue operating the OEC, which serves families with children. The center functions as an overnight respite site and daytime triage program.

The OEC also operates as the City’s primary weather-respite location.

This year, the OEC has supported approximately 800 clients – including 135 children – and, during 49 days of weather activation, has served more than 1,500 guests.

A $1.2 million agreement with Step Up on Second Street was approved to extend case carrying outreach services through Dec. 31, 2026.

In coordination with DCR, Step Up deploys outreach workers across Sacramento who maintain long-term engagement with people experiencing homelessness, supporting their transition from encampments to shelters and ultimately into housing.

Since January, Step Up has enrolled nearly 300 people into the Homeless Management Information System and provided more than 3,800 services to individuals.

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