Homeless woman dies at city-sponsored winter shelter

A 62-year-old homeless woman died early Tuesday at the Sacramento city-sponsored winter triage shelter on Railroad Avenue.

The woman appears to have gotten up from bed at 1:20 a.m. and collapsed before she could return to bed, according to a press release from the city of Sacramento. When shelter staff found her, about 10 minutes after she got up from her bed, they called 911 and attempted CPR. Fire personnel took her to Sutter Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.

She’d been a client at the center since Dec. 21, according to the press release. Run by Volunteers of America, the center is designed to take in the most medically, physically and mentally challenged people on the streets and connect them to services. Two hundred people and their pets are currently housed in the shelter, which was originally scheduled to close March 31 but may remain open longer.

“The loss of a member of our community is always devastating,” said Mayor Darrell Steinberg. “I am thankful for the VOA staff and first responders who did everything they could, quickly and compassionately. As we await information from the coroner, it’s important we ensure any family, friends, community members, staff and first responders have the support they need to grieve and heal.”

This story was originally published February 20, 2018 at 5:39 PM with the headline "Homeless woman dies at city-sponsored winter shelter."