By Sacramento City Express<\/p>\n
The Sacramento City Council on Dec. 9\u00a0approved<\/a>\u00a0four streamlined contracts for programs serving transitional aged youth (TAY) experiencing homelessness.<\/p>\n The\u00a0contracts<\/a>, which total $1.3 million, fund Waking the Village\u2019s Village Youth Shelter Program, Wind Youth Services\u2019 Common Ground Shelter Program, Sacramento LGBT Community Center\u2019s Short-Term Transitional Emergency Program, and the LGBT Center\u2019s Transitional Living Program.<\/p>\n The City is using State of California\u00a0Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP)<\/a>\u00a0grant funds to pay for the contracts, which run through Sept. 30, 2026.<\/p>\n \u201cTAY shelters are an integral part of the City\u2019s response to homeless,\u201d said Brian Pedro, director of the\u00a0Department of Community Response (DCR)<\/a>, which manages the contracts. \u201cThis funding reinforces the City\u2019s strategic approach to serving people experiencing homelessness in a compassionate and fiscally responsible manner.\u201d<\/p>\n The recent contract negotiations with the TAY shelter operators reflect the significant reduction in homelessness funding the City receives from the State, Pedro said.<\/p>\n The City\u2019s 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\u00a0Point-in-Time (PIT) count<\/a>.<\/p>\n Considering the State\u2019s funding reduction \u2013 as well as the City\u2019s\u00a0current fiscal outlook<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 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\u2019s portfolio.<\/p>\n The streamlining of the TAY contracts brings the programs in line with a more sustainable per-capita cost, Pedro said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe deeply appreciate the collaboration from our shelter partners as we work to maximize all efficiencies and continue to help as many people as possible,\u201d Pedro said.<\/p>\n Family shelter and outreach contracts<\/p>\n The City Council on Dec. 9 also approved new contracts for the City\u2019s Outreach and Engagement Center (OEC) on Auburn Boulevard and for street outreach workers.<\/p>\n A\u00a0one-year<\/a>\u00a0$2.9 million agreement with\u00a0Hope Cooperative<\/a>\u00a0was approved to continue operating the OEC, which serves families with children. The center functions as an overnight respite site and daytime triage program.<\/p>\n The OEC also operates as the City\u2019s primary\u00a0weather-respite<\/a>\u00a0location.<\/p>\n This year, the OEC has supported approximately 800 clients \u2013 including 135 children \u2013 and, during 49 days of weather activation, has served more than 1,500 guests.<\/p>\n A $1.2 million\u00a0agreement<\/a>\u00a0with\u00a0Step Up on Second Street<\/a>\u00a0was approved to extend case carrying outreach services through Dec. 31, 2026.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n