Sacramento County opened a second location to shelter unhoused individuals coming off the American River Parkway due to flooding and park closures. The Howe Park Community Center (2201 Cottage Way) opened Wednesday morning and currently has three individuals one dog sheltering there. This location has cots, blankets, water and snacks for guests, as well as crates for pets. Persons coming off the Parkway are being provided rides through transportation contracts managed by our non-profit partners.
In addition to an evacuation center, Howe is welcoming unhoused individuals in search of weather respite from the City of Sacramento. Regional Transit is providing direct service to the Howe Park Community Center for persons coming from downtown Sacramento and providing transport back to downtown when they are ready to leave.
Howe Park Community Center has capacity for up to 50 people, as well as pets. The duration these locations are open will be evaluated based on weather conditions.
Howe Park has been added to a list of other respite locations opened by the County and the City for unhoused that are either being evacuated off the Parkway, or in search of weather respite.
Additional locations will be opened as needed.
The County of Sacramento activated its motel voucher weather respite program ahead of the original storm on New Year’s Eve and is currently sheltering more than 200 people.
In addition, the County increased capacity at its North A Shelter (Dec. 31) an additional 55 beds, which have been filled, but will welcome new guests as beds are vacated. Both these locations accommodate pets.
The City of Sacramento activated weather-respite operations at both its Outreach and Engagement Center and the North Fifth Street Shelter lobby on Wednesday through at least Saturday morning.
The Outreach and Engagement Center (3615 Auburn Blvd.) opened as a 24-hour weather respite center at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. Walk-ups are accepted, and the space can accommodate 50 people, with families and pets welcome.
The North Fifth shelter lobby (700 North Fifth St.) is operating from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. It also will accept walk-ups and has space for up to 20 people. (Please note that North Fifth is for adults only and is unable to accommodate pets.)
Regional Transit is providing free shuttle transportation to both the Outreach and Engagement Center (OEC) and the North Fifth Street Shelter. The pick-up location is City Hall on 10th Street between I and H streets, with shuttles arriving at 2, 4 and 6 p.m. The route includes a stop at the North Fifth Shelter, which also is serving as a pick-up location for the OEC (shuttle space permitting).
In addition, people can use SacRT light rail and buses for free to go to and from any weather-respite location. The SacRT light rail station at Watt/I-80 station connects to bus Route 1, which has a stop near the City’s OEC.