City of Sacramento
City Council - 5PM Report
915 I Street Sacramento, CA 95814
www.cityofsacramento.org
File ID: 2023-00711 5/30/2023 Discussion Item 29.
Weather Respite Centers Update [Oral Report]
File ID: 2023-00711
Location: District 2, Represented by Councilmember Loloee Recommendation: Receive and file.
Contact: Nick Golling, Homeless Services Manager, (916) 808-7816, [email protected], Department of Community Response Presenter: Nick Golling, Homeless Services Manager, (916) 808-7816, [email protected], Department of Community Response Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
Additional Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: On March 9, 2021, the City Council directed the City Manager to adopt a City policy that overnight respite will be provided year-round in Triage Centers, regardless of weather conditions, dispersed throughout the City. (Resolution No. 2021-0058.) Specifically, the Council directed the City Manager to aggressively pursue a network of walk-in Triage Centers in underutilized public and privately enclosed spaces and safe parking lots throughout the City where people currently experiencing homelessness are living outdoors.
In response, City staff identified prospective Respite Center sites including a City owned location that was formerly the Science and Space Center Museum (3615 Auburn Blvd.). A contract to operate the Outreach and Engagement Center (OEC) site was approved by City Council on January 4, 2022 (Motion No. 2022-0008).
On March 1, 2022, Council passed a motion to rescind R2021-0058 and establish Respite Centers
File ID: 2023-00711 5/30/2023 Discussion Item 29.
with weather criteria throughout the City. This criteria includes the following opening thresholds:
Cold Weather:
1. Nighttime lows of 37 degrees or lower for two or more days within a five-day span; or
2. Rain for two or more consecutive days (forecast 60% or more); or
3. One day or night of rain combined with nighttime lows of 32 degrees or lower.
Hot Weather:
1. Publication of a National Weather Service (NWS) Heat Advisory. An NWS Heat Advisory is issued within 12 hours of the onset of extremely dangerous heat conditions.
The general rule of thumb for this Advisory is when the maximum heat index temperature is expected to be 100° or higher for at least 2 days, and nighttime air temperatures will not drop below 75°
These criteria are separate and distinct from State and County Office of Emergency Services Severe Weather Emergency Plans which are monitored by our City Office of Emergency Services. Respite Center opening thresholds are monitored by the Department of Community Response.
On July 26, 2022, Council voted to reinstate R2021-0058 as it is related to the Outreach and Engagement Center. Allowing the OEC to open to a full capacity of up to 50 people daily.
In late September 2022, the OEC opened to full capacity. The OEC has proven to be a successful tool in its ability to be flexible during inclement weather conditions. During the severe weather storms earlier this year, the OEC was able to accommodate up to 100 individuals at a time.
On March 28, 2023, Council approved a one-year extension of operations at the Outreach and Engagement Center with TLCS Inc., dba Hope Cooperative. The OEC has continued to serve up to 50 individuals per day, 7- days a week, up to 23-hours per day while also having the capacity to surge when activated to a total of 100 per day.
Policy Considerations: Not applicable.
Economic Impacts: Not applicable.
Environmental Considerations: This report is not a project pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). This report is an informational item only to provide a status update on Weather Respite Centers to address Homelessness. No action is being taken in connection with this status update. As there is no potential for this oral report to result in a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change, this report does not qualify as a “project” under CEQA. (See CEQA Guidelines 15378(a).)
File ID: 2023-00711 5/30/2023 Discussion Item 29.
Sustainability: Not applicable.
Commission/Committee Action: Not applicable.
Rationale for Recommendation: Not applicable.
Financial Considerations: Not applicable.
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.