UPDATE: The City’s Outreach and Engagement Center (3615 Auburn Blvd.) will continue to operate as a weather respite center Monday, Nov. 21, through Tuesday, Nov. 22, from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.
In addition, the City, in coordination with the County of Sacramento, will continue offering the lobby for the North Fifth Street Shelter (700 North Fifth St.) as a weather respite location for up to 20 guests. It also will remain open Monday, Nov. 21, through Tuesday, Nov. 22, from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. Note: This location is for adults only and is unable to accommodate pets.
With the National Weather Service predicting temperatures in the mid-30s for several nights in a row, the City of Sacramento on Sunday, Nov. 13, will expand the capacity of its Auburn Boulevard Outreach and Engagement Center to accommodate up to 50 people who want to escape the cold weather.
This is in addition to the usual 50-person capacity for the Outreach and Engagement Center.
The OEC (3615 Auburn Blvd.) has been used as a weather respite center in the past. It opened in late September as a full-time outreach and engagement center, offering a place for people experiencing homelessness to find a safe and secure environment.
The OEC provides food, water, hygiene and connections to services and resources that can help people find stable, sustainable housing. As many as 40 people per night have used the center recently. Its typical capacity is 50 people.
With the colder weather, the OEC will be open for short-term weather respite for up to 50 more people beginning Sunday, Nov. 13, and continuing through Thursday, Nov. 17, from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. Walk-ups will be accepted for these additional 50 spaces. People will be screened before admittance and no weapons, drugs or alcohol are allowed. California 290 registrants will not be accepted.
Hope Cooperative, the City contractor that operates this site, is bringing in additional staff to accommodate a larger number of people. The respite guests will also have access to the showers, restrooms and other facilities offered to longer-term guests.
“With additional staffing, there is room at the OEC to accommodate more people on a short-term basis,” said Nick Golling, director of homeless services for the City’s Department of Community Response. “The Outreach and Engagement Center will continue to serve the people in that program, and we can still accommodate other guests who want to come in out of the cold weather. The National Weather Services is forecasting overnight lows in the mid-30s for several days this week, and people may need a place where they can warm up for just a few hours, or overnight if they want to stay.”
The City will continue to monitor the National Weather Service’s forecast and extend operations as needed.