Sleeping cabin construction at Sacramento County’s new concept “Safe Stay Community” to shelter persons experiencing homelessness has officially begun. The new project, located at 8144 Florin Road, on the corner of Power Inn and Florin at the former site of a now razed grocery store will have 100 sleeping cabins constructed on the site. Construction of the Pallet cabins is expected to take 10 days.
Once cabin construction is complete, infrastructure work such as running power and sewer lines will take several months to complete. In addition to the cabins, the site will have a sanitation trailer for restrooms and showers, staff quarters for the 24/7 on-site operator, a security booth to manage all persons on-site, a communal eating area, storage units for possessions guests bring that do not fit in their cabin and a pet relief area. The site is expected to begin welcoming guests late this fall. It will ultimately be able to shelter 125 people at any point in time.
“Seeing the Safe Stay sleeping cabins go up is very exciting,” said District 2 Supervisor Patrick Kennedy. “It is it an important step forward in welcoming guests into this new sheltering model, and the community can begin to see how this will benefit the neighborhood and local businesses.”
Pallet has built nearly 100 communities in 50 cities across the U.S., with 76 currently operating in 45 cities including multiple locations in Northern and Southern California. The unique design and capabilities of the cabins such as a door that can be locked for privacy and safety, heating and cooling to protect guests from extreme weather events and the individualized areas that further provide a sense of space that allows people to shelter and receive services with dignity and respect.
In addition to the hard working Pallet staff, the Pallet structures are being put together by members of the Sacramento Regional Conservation Corps (SRCC) – a non-profit, workforce development and education agency. They provide an opportunity for 18-26 year-old young adults to acquire paid work experience and job skills on conservation projects in a four county region. Young adults, from diverse backgrounds, receive technical skills training and educational achievement. Their area of focus is recycling and conservation projects that enhance and protect our environment.
About Safe Stay Communities
Safe stay communities are temporary shelter settings with lower-barrier entry for unhoused community members to stay in a safer and more sanitary environment and receive critical services oriented towards exiting to permanent housing. These communities will include 24/7 security, case management services, areas on-site sanitation, food services and the County will develop good neighbor policies for the operator and occupants. Additionally, the County is concurrently standing up Encampment Services Teams who will connect people living unsheltered into the communities and provide them with deeper connections to County behavioral health services, connection to benefits like CalFresh, CalWorks, Medi-Cal, etc., linkages to longer-term shelters, and flexible funding to help support individuals’ transition into permanent housing. Ultimately, all sites should be considered as a stepping stone to stabilize and support individuals on a pathway to permanent housing.
For more information on Safe Stay Communities, read our Safe Stay Community FAQs.
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