What’s in Sacramento’s new homeless pact? New shelter and services coming to launch in 2023

The city of Sacramento and Sacramento County earlier this month announced a groundbreaking pact committing both agencies to providing services to the homeless, but don’t expect to see much change in time for winter temperatures.

The new shelter beds and outreach teams in the plan won’t be on line for a few months at the earliest. They could start to make a difference next year.

The two agencies approved the pact on Dec. 6. Aside from detailing a baseline of services they’ll provide, the agreement allows city officials to enforce Measure O, the voter-approved ballot measure that could empower officials to clear homeless encampments from public places.

Today, the city and county have a combined 2,400 shelter beds. That’s a fraction of the need with more than 9,200 people experiencing homelessness in Sacramento County on any given night.

The agreement also aims to reduce barriers to services that many homeless individuals need, including mental health and behavioral services. The agreement says city and county collectively must employ a team of 50 workers, comprising of 25 encampment workers, 10 mental health workers and 15 homeless engagement workers.

Here’s what’s in the plan:

More Sacramento shelter

In the next 12 months, Sacramento County will add 200 shelter beds, and in the next 36 months, it will add an additional 200 beds, according to officials.

The first beds will be placed in tiny homes at two south Sacramento locations off of Florin Road. Officials expect to have those up and running in spring 2023.

The next 200 beds will be on Watt Avenue. Officials don’t have an exact time frame for opening the shelter, as they are are in the beginning stages of designing the property, according to Sacramento County spokeswoman Janna Haynes.

Behavioral health teams

While the agreement states new teams of 10 behavioral health workers will visit 20 encampments per month, two of those groups have already started the groundwork at two encampments, serving individuals in need.

Those workers, who began their assignments in October, are in the field four hours each day, assessing individuals, checking their mental health and conducting substance use assessments.

The teams will be able to diagnose people “on the spot,” according to Sacramento Mayor Darrel Steinberg.

The Homeless Assistance Resource Team (HART) includes a mental health counselor and a behavioral health peer specialist, both who partner with the City of Sacramento’s Department of Community Response.

“Once we know what level of care they need, we get them to their first appointment,” said Caitlyn Fournier, county program coordinator for behavioral services.

Workers have been driving some people to visit psychiatrists who can prescribe same-day medications.

“When it comes to discussing mental health, folks aren’t quick to say, ‘sign me up,” because it’s a touchy subject,” said county health program manager Monica Rocha-Wyatt. “It takes three or more attempts to engaging that person. That’s why the peers are essential to be able to have that conversation to feel safe and feel forthcoming to get the best assessment of what their needs are.”

Teams also follow up with previous clients who have existing services, and track data to determine how many individuals they serve each year.

“Treatment in the field is a challenge,” Fournier said. “The experiences in homelessness is traumatic.”

The teams don’t provide treatment, but they link individuals with one of many treatment providers that are partnered with the county.

Health care connection

An additional team from the city Department of Community Response will provide workers trained to connect people with Medi-Cal, the state-funded health care plan.

“It’s one additional door in our system,” said Samantha Mott, county spokeswoman for the Department of Health Services. “There are several other doors that they can walk through. One of the things about behavioral health is there is no wrong door to enter. This is one additional tool in how we get people connected to services.”

This story was originally published December 17, 2022 at 6:00 AM.