With cold coming, city of Sacramento opening two homeless warming centers for two nights
With nighttime temperatures forecast to dip into the 30s and thousands sleeping outdoors, the city of Sacramento is opening two warming centers for two nights.
The City Hall Lobby, at 915 I St., will be open overnight Thursday and Friday from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., according to a news release. The Hagginwood Community Center, 3271 Marysville Blvd., will also be open during those hours.
The two facilities will provide a warm place to stay with snacks, water and restroom facilities, the city said. Both also have a covered, protected outdoor space that can accommodate pets in kennels or crates.
“We are working with our non-profits and others to communicate with people experiencing homelessness to make sure they know that these respite centers are an option for them,” said Bridgette Dean, director of the city’s Department of Community Response. “The city has about 1,100 beds in various settings for people experiencing homelessness, but they are currently full, and the respite centers offer an alternative to those most vulnerable during this cold weather event.”
Temperatures are predicted to reach a low of 35 degrees Thursday and Friday nights, with a frost advisory Thursday night, according to the National Weather Service. There is also a chance of rain from Saturday night through at least Monday, when the centers are currently scheduled to be closed.
Sacramento County is offering an increased number of motel vouchers due to the weather, but the county is not opening any centers, said county spokeswoman Janna Haynes.
“At his time we aren’t opening our (Department of Human Assistance) lobbies, instead were throwing our resources at a more effective, targeted approach,” Haynes said.
The city’s announcement comes after several people called into the City Council meeting Tuesday to demand warming centers open.
Last winter, four homeless men died of hypothermia. The council in March voted to open permanent weather respite centers year-round, regardless of temperature. So far, they have opened sporadically during recent bouts of heat and cold, but have not opened permanently.
City staff is still working on opening a permanent respite center, said Mary Lynne Vellinga, spokeswoman for Mayor Darrell Steinberg.
About 150 people spent time at a City Hall warming center in October during a major rain storm.
