How Our City Is Addressing Homelessness

There are an estimated 10,000 people experiencing homelessness in the Sacramento region. According to the 2022 point in time count, about 160 live in the City of Rancho Cordova, down from about 300 in the 2019 count.

We have both a unique strategy, as well as resources in place, to assist individuals and families experiencing homelessness in our community.

1. We believe in a service-first approach, which means working with homeless individuals and families who are actively seeking help and support.
2. We also believe in accountability, which means holding everyone accountable for their actions, building rapport, educating businesses and residents, and quickly responding to calls for service.

Over a decade ago, we had a vision for providing a home for our homeless veterans. Today, we have Mather Veterans Village, permanent supportive and transitional housing for 150 homeless and disabled veterans and their families; programs in place, such as the Homeless Outreach Team and a Homeless Navigator to connect homeless individuals with services and resources; and a commitment of $1.6 million annually to address homelessness.

The Homeless Outreach Team

The Homeless Outreach Team or HOT builds relationships with homeless individuals and families to assist them in finding services, education and resources to help them become self-sufficient. The team also enforces violations of the law, such as the illegal camping and aggressive panhandling.

The Homeless Outreach Team includes: 

• Our Homeless Outreach Navigator connects homeless individuals and families to the services, education and resources they need, including food and basic necessities, key documents, transportation, job opportunities, treatment, and both temporary shelter and permanent housing.
• Code Enforcement Officers who help maintain a healthy and safe environment for all people within the city by eliminating specific hazards and dangers.
• RCPD Officers who enforce violations of the law and the Chronic Offender Rehabilitation Effort.
• A clean-up crew that assists with cleaning up illegal camping sites and retrieving carts.   

In addition to the Homeless Outreach Team, in 2021, RCPD and Sacramento County partnered to launch a Mobile Crisis Support Team. The team, comprised of an RCPD officer trained in Crisis Intervention and a County Licensed Mental Health Clinician, responds to emergency calls to support residents experiencing mental health crises. In addition, the team has a County-contracted Peer Navigator who follows up with individuals with potential mental health needs to ensure they are offered support in navigating care systems and linked to appropriate services.

Enhancements

The City Council recently approved nearly $600,000 in enhancements to the Homeless Outreach Team that will better serve homeless individuals and families, residents, and businesses in the city. Our team will soon:

• Hire a homeless outreach team coordinator, as well as a liaison and service coordinator, to increase response time and efficiency.
• Hire additional staff for cart and debris removal.
• Increase surveillance/cameras near encampment areas.
• Increase Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) technical assistance for businesses.
• Increase drug and alcohol rehabilitation opportunities.
• Increase hotel vouchers and food assistance.
• Increase shelter and mental health services options through County partnerships with 2-1-1.
• Launch Crisis Intervention Team for mental health cases (already implemented).

The City Council is also exploring additional long-term housing projects for homeless individuals.

Our Impact

• In 2021, the team housed 63 homeless individuals and families and provided over 2,600 services, such as basic necessities, transportation, documents, and treatment. The team is currently assisting over 100 homeless individuals and families.
• In 2021, the Mobile Crisis Support Team responded to 374 calls for service, providing services such as welfare checks, mental health evaluations, meetings with residents, and more.
• In 2021, we celebrated the completion of Mather Veterans Village, the first permanent supportive housing development for homeless and disabled veterans and their families in the Sacramento region. It provides 100 permanent supportive homes and 47 units of transitional housing, as well as important amenities for our veterans. Over its lifetime, Mather Veterans Village will provide a home for more than 50,000 homeless veterans.
• The city has invested in affordable housing projects. The Crossings at New Rancho has been open since 2012, and Sunrise Crossings at St. Anton and Crossings at New Woodberry are coming soon. In addition, the Comfort Inn was a Project Roomkey location to support individuals experiencing homelessness in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The city has continued to partner with local and regional organizations and efforts to increase the effectiveness of existing services for the homeless. For example, the city provides funding to the Rancho Cordova Homeless Assistance Resource Team to support its annual Winter Shelter for the homeless.
• The city performs regular cleanup services in response to health and safety issues. In 2021, the city removed 100,000+ pounds of debris and retrieved 600+ shopping carts.

How You Can Help

The city is asking its residents and businesses to help be our eyes in the community.

Report homeless camps, trash or debris that might have come from a homeless camp, as well as abandoned shopping carts, using Rancho Cordova Connect, the city’s online reporting system.

• Homeless Outreach Team Officers: RCPDHOT@ranchocordovapd.com
• Rancho Cordova Navigator and City's Neighborhood Services Team: 916.851.8770

To report panhandling, call the RCPD non-emergency number at 916.362.5115

To report a crime in progress or suspicious activity, call 911.

If you are interested in volunteering, contact Rancho Cordova HART through its website at RanchoCordovaHART.org.