The Abridged version:
- The Sacramento City Council is considering an expansion of tiny home developments to provide shelter for the city’s unhoused population.
- The council voted 7-2 in favor of requiring occupants to pay up to 30% of their monthly income to support the housing program.
- A new donation fund is in the works to provide grants to nonprofits and religious organizations to host tiny homes.
The Sacramento City Council on Tuesday strongly supported new tiny home communities, safe camping and parking sites planned across the city to help the unhoused population.
The council’s unity marks a turning point in the city’s approach, said Councilmember Phil Pluckebaum, who is in his first year on the council. Prior councils, he said, made policy based on “individual political interests, the property rights of our most likely voters.”
“Tonight is an instance of a big push where the city is trying to do a little catch-up and recognize there are moments where all of us in sharing in that sacrifice can make a big difference.”
Three new micro-communities identified
More “micro-communities” are in the works at four plots of city-owned land. The sites are intended for people 55 and over on a fixed income who are living on the streets or in shelters.
“We’re looking for people that just have no place they can afford to live,” said Brian Pedro, the city’s director of community response.
The new tiny home communities are planned for:
- 3511 Arena Blvd. in North Natomas
- 6360 25th St. in Brentwood, near Executive Airport
- 2461 Gardendale Road in Meadowview
A fourth site is also in the works in the city’s District 7, which includes the Pocket and Land Park neighborhoods, but an address has not been made public.
The tiny home communities would include 40 units each, for a total 160 units citywide. Each unit would be 120 square feet, with enough room for a bed and small refrigerator and microwave. Restrooms, showers and kitchens would be in a separate area, and sites would also include gathering areas, gardens and 24/7 security.
Members ask for more security measures
The heaviest debate Tuesday centered on the North Natomas site, as well as plans for a safe camping site in the River District.
While the site locations are determined by the Sacramento city manager, members of the public and Councilmembers Lisa Kaplan and Rick Jennings urged city staff to do more outreach and allow more feedback from their constituents.
Patrick Stelmach, who sits on the board of the River District’s property and business improvement district, asked for more enforcement resources.
“The sidewalk camping ordinance and daytime camping ordinance have not been enforced as much as they could be,” Stelmach said. “I go to Pipeworks ever single day and there’s a very dire state.”
Rent approved for tiny home residents
The council also voted 7-2 to charge residents rent, capped at 30% of their monthly income, with Councilmembers Roger Dickinson and Mai Vang casting dissenting votes. The rent fees would apply after 90 days of residency.
“I keep coming back to the ultimate fact that we’re talking about people who make $1,000,” Dickinson said. “How much skin do they have to give up?”
The rent would cover the operational costs of the site and bring in $576,000 each year, or about a quarter of the annual operating cost. Pedro told the council that charging fees would “encourage self-sufficiency” and create “buy-in” to the community.
“The more we can save, the more we can help others,” Pedro said.
Safe camping to be tried again
The city is also making another attempt at a safe camping program.
Last year, the city forced the closure of Camp Resolution, a self-governed safe camping site near Arden Way and Del Paso Boulevard that sheltered dozens of people. City leaders have cited health and safety issues for the closure and have called the site largely a failure.
A combination of city staff and contracted workers for case managers would operate the new safe camping site. Plans include space for about 100 people in the River District at 291 Sequoia Pacific Blvd.
Tuesday night also saw the city reveal early plans for a new donation fund to support grants for more micro-home sites. City staff is studying the creation of a fund to give money to individuals, non-profits and religious organizations to house people in a tiny home.
In addition, the city recently expanded a tiny home site on Roseville Road from 100 units to 200 units. Up to 80 new safe parking sites are also in the works for a lot at the Franklin Station light rail station in the Valley Hi/North Laguna in South Sacramento.
Felicia Alvarez is a reporter at Abridged covering accountability. She’s called Sacramento home since 2015 and has reported on government, health care and breaking news topics for both local and national news outlets.