The city of Sacramento and Sacramento County are at odds over how to address the growing homelessness problem in the area. The county pulled out of an agreement with the city to create a $1.3 million Safe Ground parking lot for homeless residents after the city conducted sweeps to remove vehicles along the designated road. This lack of communication and cooperation between the city and county is indicative of their ongoing disagreements over housing policy. Meanwhile, the public is becoming increasingly frustrated with the shantytowns that have taken over parts of the city.
Sacramento is facing overwhelming numbers of homelessness, with a point-in-time count in 2022 revealing 9,300 homeless residents in the county. This number has likely increased since then, as there are only 2,614 shelter beds available. The homeless population is disproportionately affected by chronic homelessness, disabilities, and chronic health conditions. There is also a high proportion of African Americans and individuals over the age of 55 among the homeless population. Sacramento’s rate of homelessness per 100,000 residents is nearly double that of San Francisco.
The region’s homeless population is also disproportionately affected by mental illness and drug addiction, which is often on full display in the city’s streets and public places. The collapse of the social compact around housing and mental health care services has led to worsening problems, despite the billions of dollars being invested in tackling homelessness. In the upcoming mayoral race, one candidate, Dr. Flo Cofer, is advocating for short-term expansion of Safe Ground campsites and long-term investments in supportive services and affordable housing. However, the public’s increasing impatience with visible homelessness may prevent her from winning the race.
The author of the article expresses ambivalence towards the idea of setting up large Safe Grounds in the city, as they have been associated with chaos and danger in the past. Instead, they argue for a focus on wraparound services, inpatient mental health systems, and expanded affordable and public housing. They highlight the failure of California’s cities, including Sacramento, to effectively address the housing and mental health crises, and the need for innovative solutions beyond just setting up campgrounds and tent cities.
