By Sue Frost–
Over the past few weeks, I’ve had a large number of people ask me what Sacramento County is doing or going to do to help reduce the spread of COVID in the homeless community. Generous organizations like Citrus Heights HART have been doing their part to bring aid to this vulnerable community, but a greater need than ever called for significant action.
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In early April, Sacramento County and Sacramento City unanimously approved a joint plan that allocated more than $15 million for this purpose, so I want to take this opportunity to explain it to you so you can understand how we are addressing this important issue. The plan consists of three main parts:
First, we are keeping our existing emergency shelters safe and operational and expanding their capacity. For our existing shelters, we are providing guidance and supplies for how to keep facilities sanitized and properly implement social distancing.
For six different providers, we have expanded or prioritized the highly vulnerable. In one instance, the North 5th Street shelter expanded to accommodate an additional 40 highly vulnerable homeless individuals.
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Second, we are working to ensure the health and safety of everyone living outdoors. We are doing this by providing portable toilets and wash stations to homeless camps with more than ten people living in them. We are also going to be providing daily support to meet the hygienic needs the homeless have, such as hygiene kits.
I have had some people ask me why we aren’t providing portable toilets and wash stations year-round, regardless of coronavirus. The reason is that portable toilets at homeless camps quickly turn into bio-hazard nightmares unless we provide heavy, daily upkeep. Doing so is extremely expensive, and the money can often put to better use elsewhere to help solve the problem.
Third, we are creating quarantine units for homeless people who have tested positive for COVID, are symptomatic, or are otherwise highly vulnerable. We are housing these people mainly at a few existing motels who have signed contracts with the County.
Since hotels/motels have virtually 100% vacancy right now, this is a good fit for both parties. We are allowing homeless people access to the quarantine units based on a ranking, with the top rank being someone who has tested positive for COVID (which we have the complete capacity for).
The second rank is for someone pending a test or exposed to someone who tested positive, the third rank is for someone aged 65+ with pre-existing conditions with symptoms, and the ranks go on from there.
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I would like to think that from this overwhelming situation that has arisen, some good may be able to come out of it.
For Sacramento County, we may be able to connect more homeless individuals with the services they need than we have in the past. We are getting our foot in the door to talk with them about long-term housing and care, ways of getting them out of homelessness.
Sometimes, that is how a crisis works. It comes along and throws us into chaos, but it also creates opportunities. Many people are struggling right now, but they are doing it from the comfort of their homes, while many people, including seniors and families, have no such luxuries.
I hope we can capitalize on this opportunity and pull as many vulnerable people off the streets as we can, for as long as we can.
Sacramento County Supervisor Sue Frost formerly served as a Citrus Heights councilwoman and currently represents District 4, which includes Citrus Heights. She can be contacted at (916) 874-5491, or SupervisorFrost@saccounty.net.
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