Apparently, the City’s Science center shelter site was open for weather respite last week on Aug 2-4, according to article from the Mayor’s office dated 8/2/22 attached. However, the exact opening date for increased operations has not yet been announced or made clear. Requests to the city for specific information regarding facility operations and an opening date have not been responded to yet. We will keep you posted.

Article states:

“The non-profit contractor that operates the Auburn Boulevard site for the City of Sacramento is continuing to hire more staff, but the site is not yet open for overnight guests. The City anticipates being able to open the facility as a full-time outreach and engagement center that also offers overnight respite within the next 30 days.” So that puts an opening date of early September, possibly 9/2.

Here are a few things we are still wondering about:

Areas of concern/questions for Hope Cooperative
1. Why is the success of the program NOT measured by:
• Number of patients that are placed in housing
• Type and amount of services each client receives
• % of clients that remain in housing/services after one year
2. Prioritization of clients needing services:
• What housing options do you offer your clients?
• Why are you targeting drug addicted clients for services? Yes, there are a lot of clients with dual diagnoses. HOWEVER, we do know that mental health clients are preyed upon by drug users. Connecting them is a dangerous idea.
• If a drug user declines rehabilitation services, what will be the next steps?
• Will felons with violent records be allowed entry into the center? Will you even have a way to screen for this? (We know sex offenders will be screened but other offenders have not been addressed)
• Clients are not permitted to leave the facility at night. Will they be allowed to return as they please (this clause was removed from the proposal)? Or will services then be extended to clients who actually accept assistance?
3. Accountability:
• When will your completed program statement be available for the public to see?
• Who is the supervising agency monitoring the services you’re providing? CCL? Sacramento Steps Forward?
• Where can the community file complaints? Who will be reviewing them and providing a reply?
• What is the new definition of “area surrounding program”? 25’ perimeter was removed from proposal and nothing replaced it.
• How will it be made clear to the community that it is a referral based center and they are not allowed to simply cross the street and “wait” for referrals?