Those experiencing homelessness out of the elements, getting connected to services, and in process to find housing.
The City’s first Winter Triage Center is at capacity with the majority of clients ranging in age from 35-61 and homeless for more than one year. As of Jan. 16, the City’s outreach partners have enrolled 244 people into the Winter Triage Center and have found permanent housing for six people experiencing homelessness. The shelter is the first of its kind to be funded by the City of Sacramento.
Site-based triage is essential to provide the opportunity to help move the homeless into more permanent housing solutions.
“This shelter is working well. The Volunteers of America are a tremendous operator, and so far the results are very positive,” said Councilmember Jeff Harris. “This shelter provides respite from the elements 24/7 as well as caseworkers and services for the residents. This effort moves us in the right direction to achieve our goal: long-term housing solutions for 2000 people by 2020.”
The Councilmember also thanks Northern California Construction Training for their assistance in building the partitions necessary for the function of the shelter, and to HomeAid Sacramento and Home Depot for donations of materials.
The statistics of numbers served change daily
The data is updated weekly on the City’s winter triage webpage.
For your reference, here are the guidelines for accessing the shelter:
- The Winter Triage Shelter is only accessible by referral from the City’s Impact Team or through the City’s Pathways to Health and Home partner, Sacramento Covered who has outreach workers in the field.
- Walk up referrals are not permitted. Referrals must be coordinated by City partners to ensure proper storage of personal belongings and transport of individuals and their pets, and to ensure availability of a bed. Additionally, referrals ensure no lines at check-in, which was a commitment to the North Sacramento community as was targeting North Sacramento first for outreach to the homeless population.
- Community members may report encampments by contacting the City’s 311 by phone or using this link: www.cityofsacramento.org/Information-Technology/311
Other shelters and services available
While the City and its partners are making progress one client at a time, the winter triage center alone cannot solve the City’s homeless crisis. It takes a community. There are several programs and resources in the Sacramento region that also address homelessness and mental health challenges.
The last census released in July 2017 estimated some 2,000 individuals experiencing homelessness living unsheltered in the Sacramento region. See a list of crisis shelters and services here.
Background on City’s first temporary Winter Triage Center
Many of the existing emergency homeless shelters provide safety, security, food and some light level of services. While these shelters play a critical role in the homeless continuum of care, they often do not have the funding or support to offer a full array of triage services. A triage shelter is generally characterized by the following:
- Open and staffed 24/7;
- Allowing (and encouraging) guests who typically do not or cannot access traditional shelters:
- Guests with pets, partners and/or possessions
- Guests presenting with mental health or addiction issues
- Guests who have been banned from traditional shelters
- Providing on-site wrap around services by professional staff