City of Sacramento takes two steps forward to address homelessness

(FOX40.COM) — The Sacramento City Council passed two motions Tuesday night in the city’s efforts to help people transition out of homelessness.

The first motion invovles funding for future tiny home micro-communities for seniors. The motion’s passage allows the city to charge residents of those communities 30% of their monthly government wages toward the housing.

The second motion, according to the council agenda, “develops a voucher-based model for the City Motel Program to better support client choice, create additional cost savings, and assist in maintaining the program.”

Before the vote, the council heard a presentation from Brian Pedro, the director of the city’s Department of Community Response, who named the locations of three planned micro-communities for seniors looking to transition out of homelessness.

The communities will be located on plots of land owned by the city on Arena Boulevard near El Centro Road, Gardendale Road at 24th Street, and 25th Street at 47th Avenue. A fourth site has yet to be chosen.

The homes will be for hand-selected, stable seniors (55 years and older), many of whom are living in shelters, but are capable of living independently.

Pedro also named the locations of a planned safe camping lot on Sequoia Pacific Boulevard with 100 sleeping spaces for anyone experiencing homelessness, and a safe overnight parking lot at 4625 Cosumnes River Boulevard.

All of the sites would have rules that must be followed to maintain safety, order and prohibit criminal activity.

Costs will be covered by money allocated for homeless solutions in the city budget. The 30% of the monthly government wage that the seniors will be required to contribute, after an initial 90-day grace period, will help offset the costs of the micro-communities.

Some members of the public at Tuesday’s council meeting expressed concerns over the communities’ proximity to existing neighborhoods and businesses. Others thanked the city for addressing the housing needs of people experiencing homelessness.

The sites were selected by the city manager, using authority granted to him by the city council.