Sacramento’s transition to a new homeless shelter system leaves dozens in temporary housing uncertain about their future.
SACRAMENTO, Calif — Dozens of families living in city-funded temporary housing are searching for their next place to stay as Sacramento transitions to a new homeless shelter system, a change that residents and advocates say has left many uncertain about their options.
Marcella Parks, a resident of Step Up Sacramento, said she believed her stay at Arden Acres would be her final step before securing permanent housing.
“We thought this was going to be our last, final step before permanent housing because that is what we were told,” Parks said.
Parks said she learned she would no longer have housing at Arden Acres as Step Up Sacramento’s contract with the city expires and Sacramento moves to a new emergency shelter voucher program.
A spokesperson for the City of Sacramento said families have been offered motel vouchers and other shelter options for months as the transition moves forward.
Residents and advocacy groups, however, said the process has been difficult.
“It’s just mass chaos. We have currently about 100 families that have been in contact with us,” said Crystal Sanchez, president of the Sacramento Homeless Union.
According to Sanchez, those families include households with children, seniors, people who are chronically ill and others living in shelters.
Some residents at Arden Acres and other communities were directed to five hotels with $55 vouchers.
“Basically, what they were told was that they were going to go to these different hotels,” Sanchez said. “Three of the five hotels took the $55 voucher, but again, were full.”
For residents who do not qualify for other options, residents said they would be responsible for paying any hotel costs above the voucher’s value during the 28-day assistance period.
“The majority of these folks don’t have the funds to put out like that,” Sanchez said.
Residents said communication about the transition has been a major source of frustration.
“Big communication problem. And right now, we need that communication. Don’t leave us hanging — we are making our own answers now at this point,” said Tana Sito, a Step Up resident.
Sanchez said she understands that funding programs end and services change, but said the impact should not fall on people experiencing homelessness.
“Communication is key. We understand funding ends and things transfer, but the impact should have never been seen at the unhoused level,” Sanchez said.
The City of Sacramento said it has been communicating with residents through town hall-style meetings since February.
Parks said she feels residents have not been treated fairly during the transition.
“It’s not fair how they treat us — they treat us like we are less than human and it is not right,” Parks said.
Parks also had a message for city leaders.
“They need to fix it. They really need to fix this crisis,” Parks said.
City officials said families who are unable to secure a motel room should go to the city’s Outreach and Engagement Center.
Officials said they are continuing to work through requests referred by the Sacramento Homeless Union and are connecting people with available services.
According to city officials, a limited number of families were unable to have their vouchers honored because of previous issues. Officials said families who cannot secure a room at one of the participating motels will be offered a spot at the city’s Outreach and Engagement Center, which provides immediate shelter for families with minor children.
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