With the National Weather Service forecasting high temperatures next week, the City of Sacramento will activate the Outreach and Engagement Center (3615 Auburn Blvd.) and the Sam & Bonnie Pannell Community Center (2450 Meadowview Road) as a respite centers.
The OEC will operate Monday (Aug. 14), Tuesday (Aug. 15) and Wednesday (Aug. 16) from 2 p.m. to 7 a.m. the following morning, ending Thursday (Aug. 17) at 7 a.m.
The Auburn Boulevard site can accommodate up to 50 people at a time. The center has storage available for personal belongings if needed and will accept pets.
The Sam & Bonnie Pannell Community Center will operate Monday (Aug. 14), Tuesday, (Aug. 15) and Wednesday (Aug. 16) from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The community center does not allow pets, and personal storage will be limited to what visitors can carry with them.
In addition to air-conditioning, both sites will offer water, snacks and places to recharge phones and other devices.
The County of Sacramento also will open weather respite centers that will operate at the following locations, dates, and times:
DHA Service Center: 1725 28th St.
- Monday (Aug, 14), Tuesday (Aug. 15), and Wednesday (Aug. 16) — Offices are open to the public from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; extended hours for weather respite are 4 to 8 p.m.
DHA Service Center: 5747 Watt Ave., North Highlands
- Monday (Aug, 14), Tuesday (Aug. 15), and Wednesday (Aug. 16) — Offices are open to the public from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; extended hours for weather respite are 4 to 8 p.m.
Libraries and community centers will also be available during their normal hours of operation, and people can use these air-conditioned buildings as places to cool off.
The City’s partnership with Regional Transit continues to provide no-cost transportation to and from weather respite centers during their operation.
To ride free, screenshot or print this SacRT flyer and present it to the bus operator upon boarding, or show light rail fare inspection staff upon request. Only valid to and from activated weather respite centers.
“These centers are a vital service that the City can offer to our most vulnerable residents to seek respite and safety from the elements,” said Nick Golling, homeless services manager for the City.
The City will continue to monitor the NWS’s forecast and extend weather-respite operations as needed. The City will also monitor capacity at the OEC to determine if other activations are necessary.
Please call 2-1-1 or visit https://www.211sacramento.org/211/ for more information on respite centers.