Sacramento can’t fight the homeless crisis divided. It has to be a county issue, too

As the homeless crisis in Sacramento has grown more desperate, an interesting phenomenon has occurred. A countywide humanitarian crisis has been strictly framed and fiercely debated as a city of Sacramento issue.

This makes no sense, given the demographics of the county. About 510,000 people live within the city limits of Sacramento, while more than 1 million live in the unincorporated county and the remaining incorporated cities of Sacramento County.

Homelessness does not follow boundaries or jurisdictions. It’s everywhere in the Sacramento area. And every leader in the county must be on the hook and must be engaged.

Until very recently, the county government was a marginal player that was allowed to duck responsibility.

More often than not, Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg and the City Council have taken the heat for it. Homeless advocates focus almost all of their passion within the city of Sacramento. Meanwhile, the crisis grows more urgent everywhere in Sacramento County, even though the focus of the issue remains within the city limits.

The county of Sacramento is the biggest government in our region and the entity that controls social workers, triage workers, mental health dollars and substance abuse programs.

The government with the most resources is constantly overlooked. Every time a homeless encampment becomes entrenched in the city of Sacramento and grows to an alarming size, we ask: Why isn’t Steinberg doing more? What is the city of Sacramento doing?

These are ultimately the wrong questions because they are too narrowly focused. We should also be asking: What is the county of Sacramento doing? Why isn’t the county doing more to deploy social workers to homeless encampments, even if they are within the city limits?

That’s a question that screams out in the north Sacramento homeless encampment on Commerce Circle. More than 100 people are essentially stranded and living out of their vehicles. Fires have been a constant during the last year as more people park in this secluded corner of the city.

Some of the campers were just released from prison. Some have mental health issues. Some are too poor to live anywhere else. Some are resistant to any help from anyone.

The city is fully engaged in creating safe camping spaces to house homeless people, but the Commerce Circle crisis won’t be solved simply by sanctioning campgrounds or developing tiny homes.

The people here need experts such as county social workers. They need a full partnership that would combine the county’s mental health capabilities with the city’s designated campgrounds.

Sacramento cannot afford to have any more turf wars between elected officials in the city and county. That applies to the turf-protecting bureaucrats who work for them.

This type of partnership could be Sacramento’s last and best hope to keep homelessness from going the way of Portland, Seattle, San Francisco and other cities that have lost control. Without it, all of us may ruefully look back one day and lament how political battles cost us our best chance to make a difference on this critical issue.

The county of Sacramento is in line to get $301 million in federal COVID-19 relief dollars. The Sacramento City Council has already spent $4 million so far this year and will spend millions more as more safe grounds are launched. The county needs to make serious investments to solve this homeless crisis now.

Fortunately, there are hopeful signs that the county is stepping up as it hasn’t before. Ann Edwards, the acting county executive, built a distinguished career in social services before ascending to the top spot in county government. She is responsive and engaged. New County Supervisor Rich Desmond has shown a willingness to engage on the issue.

Last week, the county approved $6 million to enhance its response to homelessness. That’s a great start, but it’s only a start.

We’re looking at you, Mayor Steinberg and County Supervisor Phil Serna. This will be your legacy. This will be the legacy of every current member of the Sacramento City Council and Sacramento County Board of Supervisors.

This is our moment, Sacramento. If we blow it, we’ll always regret it.

This story was originally published June 16, 2021 at 5:00 AM.