FEB 2

Sacramento to open safe ground site for unsheltered residents at Miller Park

GETTING PEOPLE OFF THE STREET, KEEPING PEOPLE HOUSED, BREAKING NEWS

Sacramento (Feb. 2, 2022) The City of Sacramento is opening a temporary safe camping site for people experiencing homelessness in a small section of the “Peninsula” parking lot at Miller Park, 2701 Marina View Drive. The site will be used on a temporary basis to provide safety, security, shelter, sanitary services, and access to other resources for people who have been living unhoused in the area. 

The safe ground site currently in operation at W/X streets is almost entirely phased out. To date, this site has helped nearly 200 people experiencing homelessness transition into more stable housing. Miller Park will be used as a transitional site for the 10 remaining guests at W/X, as well as a low-barrier site providing an entry point into the system for people currently living in nearby encampments. 

The new 60-tent site will accommodate approximately 80 unhoused residents who remain in the Southside Park and central downtown areas. 

“I’m excited to work with the Department of Community Response to begin welcoming guests to this site,” said Councilmember Katie Valenzuela, “Miller Park is uniquely suited to this task. We’re taking lessons learned from our experiences at WX and approaching this new site in a way that will function efficiently, safely, and provide mutual benefits to our unhoused neighbors and the surrounding community.” 

Mayor Darrell Steinberg said the W/X safeground had “proved to be an effective bridge for transitioning many into shelter or permanent housing.”

“We can’t effectively help our unhoused residents or provide relief to our neighborhoods unless we have safe places for people to sleep and to get connected with the services they need,” Mayor Steinberg said. I’d like to thank Councilmember Valenzuela for standing up these crucial facilities in her district.” 

"Councilmember Valenzuela is committed to making this and other sites available to address the needs of our community members experiencing homelessness,” said Bridgette Dean, Director for the Department of Community Response, “I want to thank her for that commitment and I also appreciate our mayor and city council members ongoing efforts to secure additional sites for this critical purpose in their districts" 

The Miller Park safeground is the third major advance the City has announced in the past month in its ongoing effort to address unsheltered homelessness. On Jan. 21, the City announced that it had purchased 102 acres of vacant land in south Sacramento for use as a car camping site and eventually for affordable housing and a community amenity for District 8, represented by Councilmember Mai Vang.

And on Jan. 18, the state announced it had awarded $23.9 million to the City of Sacramento to create 92 units of permanent supportive housing by converting the current Best Western Sutter Hotel in downtown Sacramento — also in Councilmember Valenzuela’s district

The site is projected to open in early February and will provide new tents, as well as access to restrooms, showers, garbage collection, and 24/7 staff to connect people to health services and programs to help them secure long-term housing. 

Councilmember Valenzuela and the Department of Community Response have set up a webinar for community stakeholders who would like to learn more about the Miller Park site. Participants will have a chance to ask questions at a webinar on Saturday, Feb. 5 at 2 p.m. Register at https://cityofsacramento-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4PN2j33wSAS-NPjzoq8Jcw