Volunteers from Fair Oaks Church serve guests on New Year’s Eve 2021 during Winter Sanctuary. // M. Hazlip
By Mike Hazlip—
Over 800 volunteers and nine local churches provided a rotating winter shelter for area homeless in Citrus Heights during the darkest winter months, recently concluding operations on Feb. 25.
Volunteers with the Citrus Heights Homeless Assistance Resource Team (HART) provided more than 1,000 hot meals to a total of 77 guests in the program, according to a news release by the organization.
In the release, HART Chairwoman Irene Hronicek thanked the volunteers who served meals, offered assistance, or engaged in “encouraging conversation” with Citrus Heights residents experiencing homelessness. In addition to a hot meal, guests were given clothing, first aid, and power for charging mobile devices. In the morning, volunteers provided each guest with a to-go meal.
Citrus Heights Navigator Gabriella Yost was available to offer assistance to guests, Hronicek said. Two bicycles were also offered to guests.
The program ran from Dec. 26, 2021, through Feb. 25, 2022, with a total of 16 organizations providing additional services such as mobile hot showers, laundry, hair cuts, and addiction counseling. Churches involved included Messiah Lutheran Church, Antelope Road Christian Fellowship, A Church for All, Advent Lutheran, Celtic Cross, Divine Savior Catholic Church, Holy Family Catholic Church, Fair Oaks Church, and the LDS Ladies Relief Society Citrus Heights Stake.
Lori Bally of Fair Oaks Church told The Sentinel in a previous interview that the church relies on volunteers to keep the program running.
“It takes a ton of volunteers,” Bally said adding she has a pool of about over 70 volunteers who perform tasks such as cooking and serving meals, making laundry runs, and overnight monitors. “The hardest part is the night shifts.”
The Winter Sanctuary program operates with the help of area churches who agree to serve as host sites for a week at a time, before the lodging rotates to another host site. Accommodations are typically provided for up to 20 people.
File photo, the Citrus Heights Community Center is located at 6360 Fountain Square Drive. // CH Sentinel
By Mike Hazlip—
A local nonprofit with a mission to aid area homeless is asking for help after services provided over the weekend at a city-run cooling shelter took a toll on the organization’s funds.
Homeless Assistance Resource Team spokeswoman Kathilynn Carpenter said her organization spent more than $1,000 out of their budget helping individuals brought to the city’s cooling center in the Community Center over the weekend. The Underground Clothing store at Sunrise Mall also provided clothes, she said.
Nichole Baxter, Communications Officer for the City of Citrus Heights, told The Sentinel in an email Wednesday that the cooling center served between 10 and 16 people per day over a three-day span when temperatures spiked above the 100 degree mark last weekend.
In an email to The Sentinel Wednesday, Acting Commander Wesley Herman confirmed police transported some individuals to the cooling center after determining they were homeless.
Carpenter did not release personal information out of privacy concerns, but confirmed police brought the individuals to the center to escape the heat. In addition to water and an air conditioned space, she said HART provided meals and lined up a hotel for some individuals experiencing homelessness, including several minors.
Carpenter called the recent heat wave “a terribly unhealthy environment for our unhoused residents,” and said the cooling center provides a critical need for those without other options for avoiding the heat.
“The City has been great with the Cooling Center and HART members have been volunteering at the center.” Carpenter said in Wednesday’s email. She said the center stayed open past the usual 7 p.m. closing time, as temperatures stayed above 100.
Carpenter said her organization is actively seeking donations to help area homeless. She said one volunteer is working to get a family’s car out of the tow yard to get repaired, with an $800 bill from the tow yard and costs of repair still to be assessed.
More information on volunteer opportunities and a link for online donations is available at www.citrusheightshart.org.
By Thomas J. Sullivan– The Citrus Heights Homeless Assistance Resource Team (HART) will be hosting an upcoming one-day, one-stop resource event for students and families who are “in transition, experiencing, or at risk of homelessness.”
The 2019 “Student Connect” event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sept. 14 at Mesa Verde High School, located at 7501 Carriage Drive.
Organizers say medical, dental, vision and mental health professionals will be participating and general information on housing resources and counseling will be offered. A free pancake breakfast will be provided during the event.
Assistance with school enrollment in the San Juan Unified School district, enrollment in Cal Fresh, and applying for free student meals will also be provided during the event.
In addition, clothing, haircuts, hygiene items and free bags of food will made available to those in need. More information is available on HART’s Eventbrite registration page.
Volunteers serve homeless guests a hot meal at a local church as part of a local winter shelter program. // CH Sentinel
By Thomas J. Sullivan– The Citrus Heights Homeless Assistance Resource Team (HART) is calling this year’s “Winter Sanctuary” program to temporarily house the city’s homeless a qualified success, with an eye towards increasing participation next year.
“Seventy-six homeless guests showed up at least once during this year’s Winter Sanctuary program,” said Stan Munoz, a Citrus Heights HART board member who spoke on behalf of Irene Hronicek, chairperson for Winter Sanctuary at HART’s monthly meeting on March 28 at Holy Family Church in Citrus Heights.
The annual rotating winter shelter program concluded on Feb. 23, 2019, and began on Dec. 30 last year.
Munoz and homeless navigator Toni Morgan gave members a statistical summary of this year’s program during the meeting, along with an overview of lessons learned. Morgan acts as the main outreach specialist and works to assess and provide connections to services for those experiencing homelessness.
“Last year there were 69 participants in Winter Sanctuary,”
Morgan said. Interest in the program was up considerably due to unseasonably
heavy winter rains, she added.
Munoz also said this year’s response was better. He said “many came in to the application process early, and care groups who were involved in the screening process we reached them much sooner.”
“Some 25 people came to register in just the first week of
Winter Sanctuary. There were 2-3 homeless guests per night we just couldn’t fit
in. Our average was 28-29 guests per host site per week,” Munoz said. Twelve
homeless guest participants in last year’s Winter Sanctuary program returned to
participate again this year.
The Winter Sanctuary is an annual rotating emergency shelter program for Citrus Heights homeless residents hosted by the local faith-based community during the cold weather months. The program also includes volunteer training, on-site staffing for an overnight period and preparation and serving of a warm dinner meal.
“Without the ongoing commitment of all volunteers involved
in Winter Sanctuary each year, the program wouldn’t be effective,” Munoz said.
Messiah Lutheran Church served as one of three intake sites.
No pets, weapons, drugs or alcohol are allowed among those 18 years or older
who participate in Winter Sanctuary. Dinner and a to-go breakfast are served to
homeless-guest participants who are furnished a cot and sleeping bag at each
hosting site. Secure overnight storage for small items including a bicycle were
also offered.
Hronicek spoke to The Sentinel last week by telephone and shared some success stories, including several homeless guests in the Winter Sanctuary who were successfully matched with resources and services to reconnect with family members who were actively looking for them.
“I’m usually on hand to give specific thanks to all of those involved who make such a considerable difference in the lives of so many, Hronicek said, noting the volunteer work of churches and others who contributed hundred of hours to the effort. “We can’t thank them enough.”
Each homeless guest who sought to participate in Winter
Sanctuary was registered, photographed, searched for weapons and contraband
such as drugs before being cleared to participate in Winter Sanctuary.
“We’re trying to meet the homeless where they are, and
respecting who they are,” Hroncek said.
Triaging the mental health, drug and alcohol counseling and
personal needs of each Winter Sanctuary participant is critical, she said. “We
want to respond as efficiently as possible to each of their needs.”
“We want to increase our ability to provide mental health
services to our guests and especially first aid care. Many guest participants
in Winter Sanctuary had some very urgent medical issues. There were some who
needed an immediate infusion of antibiotics and these needed to be taken to
local emergency rooms,” she said.
Hronicek said the volunteers and board members of Citrus
Heights HART seek to give their homeless guests the health and medical
resources they need to take care of themselves. “We have to take care of their
basic needs and help them to become the person they were intended to be.”
Munoz, a longtime HART member, credits the Citrus Heights Police Department’s positive attitude towards community policing as changing how the homeless are viewed. CHPD began its month-long annual count of the homeless in the city on April 1.
“Being homeless isn’t itself a crime. These people need the support of our entire community if we, as a city are going to be successful in working with this population, said Munoz. “We have to build public trust and actively encourage those who need assistance to register with the Citrus Heights Navigator.”
“We recognize over 200 homeless in our community but the actual
count could be greater,” he said. Morgan expects the officers of CHPD will do
as thorough a count as possible.
“The better we are able to get an accurate account, the
better we can help them. It takes the whole community to be involved,” Morgan
said.
Munoz hopes the annual Winter Sanctuary program can take in
more homeless guest participants next year. To do so will require the involvement,
partnership and participation of many more community groups to work cooperatively
to add available space to the program.
Host locations this year included Advent Lutheran Church, Antelope Road Christian Fellowship, Celtic Cross Presbyterian Church, Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Citrus Heights Stake, the LDS Church Relief Society, and Holy Family Catholic Church.
Helper organizations included the City of Citrus Heights Navigator, Rotary Club of Orangevale, Citrus Heights Police Activities League, Elica Healthcare Services and A Community for Peace.
Donations and additional host and helper churches are being sought for next year’s Winter Sanctuary program. Those interested can contact Irene Hronicek at (916) 220-3615 or by email at citrusheightshart@gmail.com.
Want to share your thoughts on homelessness in Citrus Heights? Submit a letter to the editor or opinion column for publication: Click here
Sentinel staff report–
Last Monday began the first of a 55-night rotating shelter at area churches for homeless in Citrus Heights. Through Feb. 24, up to 20 homeless are able to grab a hot meal and warm place to stay thanks to the overnight hospitality of various congregations and numerous volunteers.
The effort is part of an eight-week “Winter Sanctuary” program coordinated by the Citrus Heights Homeless Assistance Resource Team (HART), a local nonprofit made up of various public and private organizations, churches, and volunteers. The shelter program relies heavily on the involvement of area churches, with various congregations offering to host the homeless overnight for a week and additional volunteers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and other area ministries also offering staffing help.
“We offer a hot meal, a dry place to sleep, and a to-go meal in an environment that helps [the homeless] connect to caring people and services to help them on a path out of homelessness,” said Irene Hronicek, who serves on the board of HART and is helping coordinate this year’s shelter. While at the shelter, she said homeless guests, as they are referred to by volunteers, will also be offered help from Alcoholics Anonymous, free health checkups from a mobile Elica Health Center van, domestic violence resources from A Community for Peace, and housing counseling and assistance by a homeless “navigator” from Sacramento Self-Help Housing.
The shelter kicked off last year for the first time in Citrus Heights with a seven-week rotating shelter, which has now expanded to eight weeks for 2018.
This year’s temporary shelter came just in time for rain on Wednesday, offering a dry place to stay at Holy Family Catholic Church on Old Auburn Road, which hosted the first week of the shelter program. Despite the rain, however, only one homeless person showed up to the shelter on the first night, and by Wednesday the shelter only hosted four homeless overnight.
“We thought there’d be more,” Hronicek said, noting that hundreds of fliers had been passed out to announce the shelter. “But the weather is so mild right now, so a dry place to stay is maybe not as big of a deal.”
Compared to last year, the shelter also started out with smaller numbers, but overgrew capacity by February when volunteers even had to turn one guest away in the rain. Hronicek noted the weather was colder last year, and 2017 also began with a heavy downpour from a pair of “atmospheric rivers” that caused minor flooding in Citrus Heights.
Another reason some homeless avoided the shelter in the past has been HART’s rules, which includes a no drug and alcohol policy. Guests must also show up each night at an intake site at Messiah Lutheran Church between 5-6 p.m. in order to be taken by a van to the host church. The shelter is also unable to accept homeless who have pets, due to facility limitations.
Although having more than enough volunteers to staff the initial weeks, shelter organizers said volunteers are still being sought as “night owls” — a term referring to the overnight shift at the host facility. A host church for the fifth week is also still up in the air.
Hronicek said it’s been difficult finding churches who will agree to be a host location, and said rotating shifts between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. require about 20 volunteers to be lined up each night.
“20 people, 7 nights a week; it’s a burden,” she said.
Although having an immediate goal to provide temporary shelter for those without homes in the winter, HART’s ultimate mission is to help the homeless find permanent housing — and getting the often-roving homeless population in one room has proved to be helpful towards that end.
The City of Citrus Heights has partnered with HART in its housing endeavor by providing funding for a full-time homeless navigator, charged with the task of connecting homeless with public services. During last year’s shelter, the navigator said 30 homeless guests received housing counseling, 11 were provided transportation through rides or a bus pass, and 10 shelter guests were given fee-waiver vouchers for applying for a state ID or drivers license.
Once the shelter program concludes in February, HART is also seeking churches or landlords in Citrus Heights that are willing to have their rental property serve as transitional housing for homeless. Those interested in volunteering for HART or the winter shelter are invited to contact the organization through their website at www.citrusheightshart.org.
Trash reportedly left behind at a homeless camp on Sycamore Drive in Citrus Heights. // Reader photo submission
All eight Citrus Heights city council candidates were recently given an opportunity by The Sentinel to submit written statements on a variety of local issues, including homelessness. Seven of the eight candidates submitted statements by the Oct. 22 deadline, and their answers are provided in their entirety below.
On Nov. 8, voters will pick two of the candidates to represent them on the five-member Citrus Heights city council. Each candidate was allowed up to a 100-word response per question.
Q: Homelessness is ranked among the top issues faced by businesses and residents in Citrus Heights. What is your plan to address this and what role do you see private organizations playing? (Be specific)
Jeff Slowey: “I truly believe the homeless ‘issue’ is a regional issue and will not be solved alone by Citrus Heights. That aside, for the current budget year, the City Council doubled the budget for our Homeless Navigator program. This program has proved very successful last year with over 50 percent of those requesting assistance moved into some form of permanent housing or ongoing services. All in all pretty good results for a start-up program. Additionally the newly formed HART group (Homeless Assistance Resource Team) made up of business representatives and City resources is looking for ideas to dive deeper into this arena.”
Bret Daniels: “We must be proactive in our approach and not simply reactive. Let’s find the homeless that are searching for a way out of that lifestyle and help them get there by providing assistance with basic human needs, resume preparation, and even some limited income helping clean up the city. Those that simply want to live a lifestyle of drugs, garbage, and panhandling need to be shown the way out of our city.”
Rick Doyle: “For now, the newly funded ‘Navigator’ program started by the HART team seems to be getting great results in ‘navigating’ a large number of the homeless into programs that can help those that want to help themselves onto a path that can help to transition them to self sustainment. We can’t help them all, and will never eliminate homelessness, but this seems to be a program that is working to reduce the numbers significantly. On a small city budget, there is only so much we can do, but this seems to be getting the best results.”
Marcel Weiland: “People are homeless for different reasons and need help in different ways. Our approach to homelessness should first seek to understand the complexity of the problem and then develop a two-prong approach that addresses the immediate urgent needs of the person, such as food, clothing, and housing in bad weather, as well as the long-term needs such as medical care, mental health care, job training and housing assistance. The City cannot provide all or even most of these things, but we can partner with local private organizations in order to connect the homeless with the resources they need to improve their lives.”
Tim Schaefer: “The City’s role in the homeless issue is to coordinate with other cities in the region to support programs and agencies for documenting the homeless. Two existing programs are Homeless Assistance Resource Team and the Winter Sanctuary program, which is limited to 20 homeless participants. With about 200 homeless people in the city, this limited space serves two purposes. It creates a bit of a competition which helps to identify the individuals who are truly ready to take advantage of available services and secondly it makes facility security more manageable. This program should be expanded to more than just the winter months.”
Porsche Middleton: “Citrus Heights has a Navigator Program that connects the homeless with local resources and regional programs. The full time Navigator helps to connect these individuals to organizations like HART and regional resources located in Sacramento County. Further development of these programs will be critical to addressing the issue of homelessness in Citrus Heights.”
Amor Taylor: “I believe we can reduce homelessness by addressing the needs of those who seek help. Their most immediate needs are meals and a place to shower. I would like to see a place where they can receive a meals on a regular basis rotating with private organizations and volunteers to assist, then be directed to local services and resources for assistance and a possible work program. As mentioned in Roseville, where they are assisting with street cleaning and other jobs. If an individual had $6, it’s not likely they will take a bus downtown to get services. It’s meeting them where they are.”
Candidates were also asked other questions about enhancing public safety, body cameras, marijuana regulation, fiscal policy, and Measure B. Although agreeing on many issues, candidates hold opposing views on Measure B and police-worn body cameras, and also have differing approaches to enhancing public safety and other issues.
Rick Doyle, retired insurance broker and current candidate for Citrus Heights city council. // CH Sentinel
Note: In the interest of providing voter information and fair election coverage, The Sentinel has given all eight Citrus Heights city council candidates an equal opportunity to submit 100-word written statements on a variety of local issues. Rick Doyle’s full responses can be found below. See other candidate responses in the article: “Citrus Heights city council candidates on the issues, in their own words”
Rick Doyle, 72, is a retired Farmers insurance agent and currently serves on the City’s planning commission. He also heads up a local neighborhood watch group and has served as a volunteer with the Citrus Heights Police Department since 2008. (Click to read full candidate profile)
Homelessness is ranked among the top issues faced by businesses and residents in Citrus Heights. What is your plan to address this and what role do you see private organizations playing? (Be specific)
“For now, the newly funded ‘Navigator’ program started by the HART team seems to be getting great results in ‘navigating’ a large number of the homeless into programs that can help those that want to help themselves onto a path that can help to transition them to self sustainment. We can’t help them all, and will never eliminate homelessness, but this seems to be a program that is working to reduce the numbers significantly. On a small city budget, there is only so much we can do, but this seems to be getting the best results.”
Measure B would raise the sales tax by half a cent throughout Sacramento County to pay for roads and Regional Transit projects. If the vote were held today, would you vote “yes” or “no” on Measure B, and why?
“Like everyone, I’m not in favor of any tax increase. However, because it was drafted to require a two-thirds majority to pass, I can be sure that the funds raised will not be diverted to other causes and will address our badly needed street repairs throughout Sacramento County. Some of the major streets in Citrus Heights would include Auburn Boulevard; San Juan Avenue; Antelope Road; Greenback Lane; and Sunrise Boulevard. It also includes an annual audit and a taxpayer oversight committee. So I will be supporting Measure B.”
One of the City’s strategic planning goals is to enhance public safety. What specifically would you advocate doing to enhance public safety in Citrus Heights?
“With our new police chief, I would be encouraging a continuation of the monthly DUI checkpoints that have already been funded with grant funds. Also, at this point we don’t know what the results of the upcoming election will be, but two propositions ( Prop 57 Early Prison Release and Prop 64 Recreational Marijuana) could both be contributors to public safety. IF they both pass, I would like an assessment from Chief Lawrence to the city council as to his plans to address both.”
Body-worn cameras have been praised by many as a way to increase accountability and decrease false claims against police. Do you believe CHPD should implement body-worn cameras within the next two years? Why, or why not?
“CHPD has already established a solid ‘community oriented’ police dept. in Citrus Heights, and as such has the full faith and support of our citizens. They have reduced crime in every category every year since their inception in 2006. Body cameras will eventually become a necessary piece of equipment for all police forces, but because of the rapport that is already established, I think we could wait for a couple of years before it becomes necessary in our city. It will not be cheap, but I think we should wait for now.”
Many of you have advocated for a fiscally conservative policy and maintaining the City’s history of operating debt free. What is your specific plan to address the growing cost of pensions and maintaining a balanced budget with healthy reserves?
“We need to remain focused on remaining debt free and set priorities as we move forward so that we never overspend beyond our income and continue to maintain a healthy reserve and keep taxes low. Remembering that we don’t receive property tax revenue until 2022, discipline is an absolute necessity as we continue to move forward. We’ve already designated the 6.9 million dollars we will be receiving from Dignity Health to be dedicated to the reserve fund. The utility savings as a result of the new ‘LEED Gold Certified’ city hall can be focused on other expenses as well as other cost saving measures.”
In August, the city council voted 4-0 to oppose Proposition 64, which would legalize recreational marijuana in California. Do you agree with the council’s decision?
“Yes I agree. If we hadn’t taken the initiative to do something before the November election, we would not have been able to have any say so at all. So the decision was to enact city ordinances that would prohibit the establishment of any dispensaries and prohibit any deliveries of product inside the city limits of Citrus Heights. It would involve both medical and recreational marijuana and be triggered only if Proposition 64 is passed. It would include the grow area limits that currently exist with medical marijuana.”
It is well-known that many homeowners choose to ignore required building permits while doing remodel or construction work on their properties, citing permit costs or “excessive regulations.” What would you do to address this?
“The requirement of a building permit is for the protection of the homeowner to insure that they use properly licensed and insured contractors that know the guidelines that are established to be sure the work is done properly and provide the necessary safety protocols. Without such, the homeowner is legally liable in the event of someone being hurt on the job, or workmanship failures that could endanger many lives including the homeowner. A better job of communicating these facts to the intended participant with a brochure depicting the consequences of not proceeding with a proper permit might help.”
What, if any, are two existing city regulations/codes that you think should be changed, and why?
“I’m not personally familiar with all the existing regulations or codes, but those that I’ve been personally exposed to due to a recent remodeling of my personal home, I found to be well thought out and not unreasonable to comply with in any way.”
Stock photo, homeless man. Credit: Matthew Woitunski [CC BY 3.0], via Wikimedia CommonsUpdated March 26, 12:12 p.m.–
In a collaborative effort to assist homeless and struggling veterans in the Citrus Heights area, the local Homeless Assistance Resource Team (HART) along with American Legion Post 637 will host a daylong “Stand Down” event on March 30.
“Our focus is to bring together and make available as many services as possible,” HART Chairwoman Kathilynn Carpenter said in a news release. She said services offered to veterans would include housing assistance, employment, medical, legal, and food.
The Wednesday event will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Holy Family Church on Old Auburn Road, promising “a safe retreat for veterans to rest and tap into much needed services.” Organizers expect over 150 veterans to attend.
Various Stand Down events for veterans are held across the country, and are based off stand-downs used during the Vietnam War to provide safe retreats for those returning from combat.
HART is a local nonprofit formed in 2014, with a mission to implement long-term solutions to homelessness through public-private partnerships. True to its mission, HART’s stand down event has garnered the support of more than a dozen private and public agencies, with sponsors including the City of Citrus Heights, Sunrise Marketplace, and the Citrus Heights Police Department.
An event flier also invites community members to help by donating clothing, pet food, drinks, and food, as well personal care items like tooth brushes and deodorant. The flier additionally lists a need for dental and veterinary services to be provided at the event, and an “adopt a meal” option for breakfast or lunch is listed for $100 to $125.
Those wishing to donate or serve are invited to contact Event Chair Katherine Cooley, at Kcooley@citrusheights.net, or by phone at (916) 727-4952.
File photo, homeless individuals shown sleeping outside the former Linda’s Pizzeria on Greenback Lane, shortly after the business permanently closed. // CH Sentinel
Updated Feb. 8, 4:06 p.m.–
Seeking to address growing concerns about homelessness in Citrus Heights, city council members heard a pair of reports last week on recent outreach efforts to the area’s homeless population.
The reports were delivered during a Jan. 28 council meeting and focused on local efforts by the Homeless Assistance Resource Team (HART), along with an update on efforts to connect the area’s homeless population with resources through a part-time “navigator.”
In a 20-minute report, HART Chairwoman Kathilynn Carpenter, who also serves as executive director of the Sunrise Marketplace business district, highlighted the local efforts of HART, as well as financial impacts of homelessness on local businesses, residents, and taxpayers.
She referenced results of a recent “business walk,” conducted by the City and Chamber of Commerce, which found the majority of 77 businesses contacted had listed homelessness as “an issue.” Carpenter said problems have included loitering, public urination, shoplifting, camping, restrooms being used as showers, and customers being driven away.
She also highlighted “public-sector” costs of homelessness on law enforcement, court costs, hospitalization, and other public services. Although police believe there are just a little over 50 homeless persons in Citrus Heights, Lt. Jason Russo previously told city leaders that the police department receives “quite a few” calls for service related to homelessness, documenting a total of 1,585 calls during a six-month period in 2015.
Homeless Assistance Resource Team efforts
Carpenter said HART was formed towards the end of 2014, with a mission to “craft and implement long-term solutions to a long-term problem” of homelessness, through public-private partnerships. The group has since applied for nonprofit status and holds regular meetings at noon on the fourth Thursday of each month, at Holy Family Catholic Church.
According to Carpenter, HART is currently planning a “Stand Down” event for homeless veterans on March 30, which will offer haircuts, counseling, and a variety of services “for one day, in one place.” Additionally, she said HART supports a food bank and is working with the local farmers market to set up a table for collecting food donations.
Carpenter also said her group reached out to two other HART groups in the region that operate winter homeless shelter programs, arranging for Rancho Cordova’s HART to provide shelter for Citrus Heights homeless during most of the winter. She said various churches alternate in providing shelter with Rancho Cordova’s program and said the Citrus Heights HART has a goal to have a similar program in place by 2017.
As part of the shelter arrangement, she said Holy Family church offered to provide temporary overnight shelter for Rancho Cordova and Citrus Heights homeless from Jan. 17 to 24, with about 25 to 30 people participating. Ages ranged from seniors over 60-years-old, to a pregnant woman with a young child -- with participants receiving dinner, toiletries, first aid kits, clothing, and connection with services.
"We’re developing a winter shelter subcommittee so that we can have more churches next year and have our own Citrus Heights winter sanctuary," Carpenter told city council members. "We'll be doing a lot of church outreach so we can make that happen."
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Although largely supportive of HART's report, mention of a winter shelter in Citrus Heights did not sit well with at least one city councilman.
“I am not, and I'll say it again, I am not in favor of building a shelter," said Vice Mayor Jeff Slowey, believing that a shelter would only attract more homeless to the area. "If you build it, they will come, is my philosophy."
Carpenter clarified to the council that her group is not proposing to build a permanent shelter, but rather a rotating, seasonal shelter, facilitated by churches or other volunteer groups.
She also shared her own "paradigm shift" about being a person who was "always calling police" on the homeless, to becoming a person who focused more on long-term solutions.
"I had to have the paradigm shift that that doesn't work; it's very temporary," Carpenter told the council. She now believes connecting homeless individuals with available services and resources, in addition to enforcement of existing laws, is “the most cost-effective model” to addressing homelessness.
Obstacles faced
The Citrus Heights HART leader also said the "biggest obstacle" her group has faced is the lack of social services in communities outside Sacramento's "urban core." She said a "mind-numbing bureaucracy" has made it "nearly impossible" to efficiently connect homeless with services available in downtown Sacramento, especially with limited funding and time.
Other obstacles brought up during the meeting included the cost of rent, lack of a phone or transportation to get to a job or appointments, mental illness, and criminal history causing rental applications to be denied.
Carpenter also said the majority of homeless in Citrus Heights won't ever leave the area "because they are connected to the city," either by having a family member in the area or having grown up here.
She requested the city council's help in advocating for "satellite services" in Citrus Heights and other communities like Fair Oaks and Orangevale, which she said are "all experiencing the same issues we are."
Homeless navigator's report
Following Carpenter's report, council members heard a report from navigator Fatima Martinez, who works with HART to help connect homeless individuals with available resources -- with an end goal of helping homeless access permanent housing.
The one-year navigator pilot program is funded by a $10,000 grant from the City, which pays for a navigator from Sacramento Self-Help Housing to be on the job six hours a week in Citrus Heights. The program has been in operation for about six months.
Martinez reported engaging 19 homeless individuals, five of whom declined an opportunity to participate in services like general assistance, bus passes, free government cell phones, motel vouchers and transportation.
Of the 14 homeless individuals who agreed to participate, Martinez said four were connected with Rancho Cordova’s winter sanctuary, two were permanently housed, and three were temporarily housed. She also said several received bus passes and hotel vouchers, and one received a free government cell phone.
Council members respond
Commenting on Martinez's report, Vice Mayor Slowey called her work a "phenomenal success," adding that he had initially been skeptical the $10,000 grant would create any results.
"Clearly we ought to get you more money some way, some how," said Slowey, suggesting his fellow council members and city staff work "to find a way to make that $10,000 closer to 50."
Several other council members also expressed support for the work of HART, along with a few questions about specific aspects of the navigator's work. Mayor Jeannie Bruins also commented positively about a homeless assistance group called The Gathering Inn, based in Roseville, which operates a year-round shelter.
Looking ahead, the City's Community and Economic Development Specialist Katherine Cooley, who works closely with HART, said the navigator pilot program plans to continue with current funding for the next six months. She said additional data would be collected and made available at the conclusion of the pilot program.
Note: this is the first article in a series on community issues. Follow future stories about homelessness and other local issues by signing up for The Sentinel’s free Weekend Edition.Save
Citrus Heights police respond to a shooting at an apartment complex next to Kmart on Auburn Boulevard, Jan. 29. // CH Sentinel
Local news briefs this week include local homeless outreach efforts, a Friday night shooting, local medical marijuana regulation, and an update on the cause of a Citrus Heights garage fire.
Friday night shooting in Citrus Heights injures one; police investigating Citrus Heights police detectives are investigating a Jan. 29 shooting at an apartment complex next to the Auburn Boulevard Kmart, which sent one man to the hospital. In a news release issued Saturday morning, police said officers responded to a 911 call around 8:15 p.m. on Friday and found a man in his mid-twenties with an “upper body” gunshot wound, on the 7300 block of Auburn Oaks Court. The man was taken to a local hospital where he underwent surgery, and is currently in stable condition and expected to survive.
Police said detectives are currently investigating the incident and request anyone with information about the shooting to contact the Citrus Heights Police Department at (916) 727-5500, or via an anonymous crime tips hotline at (916) 727-5524. The news release did not indicate any arrests have been made, but police said “there is no specific risk to the members of the community, as this incident appears to be isolated.”
Metro Fire: space heater caused Citrus Heights garage blaze An early morning fire which torched a garage and vehicle last week was caused by a space heater, Metro Fire Captain Michelle Eidam told The Sentinel on Friday. The fire occurred around 2 a.m. on Jan. 21, inside a garage attached to a Twin Brook Court home, near Van Maren Lane. A next-door neighbor said she awoke to flames and “swarms” of firefighters who used saws to cut open the garage in order to gain access.
Metro Fire also determined a space heater to be the cause of a house fire earlier this month in Antelope, according to a Fox40 news report. Fire officials recommend keeping space heaters at least three feet away from flammable objects, and to always use properly rated extension cords.
City council hears update on local homeless outreach At a Thursday-night council meeting, City leaders heard a 20-minute report from the head of the Citrus Heights Homeless Assistance Resource Team (HART), a group formed in late-2014 to “craft and implement long-term solutions to a long-term problem” of homelessness, through public-private partnerships.
HART Chairwoman Kathilynn Carpenter said she believes connecting homeless individuals with available services and resources, in addition to enforcement of existing laws, is "the most cost-effective model" to addressing homelessness. Carpenter, who also serves as executive director of Sunrise Marketplace, said her group has several events planned this year and seeks to launch a winter shelter in Citrus Heights by 2017, primarily through working with churches and other volunteer groups.
Councilmembers also heard an update from "navigator" Fatima Martinez, who works with HART to help connect homeless individuals with available resources. The one-year navigator pilot program was funded by a $10,000 grant through the City, and has currently been in operation for six months. Martinez reported engaging 19 homeless individuals, 14 of whom agreed to participate in services like general assistance, bus passes, free government cell phones, motel vouchers and transportation. She said out of the 14 participants, four were connected with Rancho Cordova's winter sanctuary, two were permanently housed, and three are temporarily housed. (Full story coming next week with additional details and councilmember responses.)
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Public hearing held on medical marijuana code amendment
A public hearing on a medical marijuana code amendment was short and uneventful Thursday night, with no members of the public speaking in favor or against the proposed change during the hearing. According to City staff, the amendment made no changes to current marijuana cultivation regulations in the city, but protects local control by adding references to existing regulations into the zoning code's "land use" tables. City officials said motivation behind the amendment was a deadline set by Assembly Bill 243, which requires cities to have medical marijuana land use regulations in place by March 1, 2016, in order to retain local licensing authority over marijuana cultivation -- otherwise licensing power would reside at the state level only. Councilmembers passed the amendment unanimously.
See what else happened over the past week: Citrus Heights This Week: what’s happening in town (Jan.24-30)
[Related update on Fox40: Brother of Man Shot In Face During Robbery Speaks Out]
