Sacramento has launched an initiative to tackle homelessness head-on, with a new pilot program aimed at moving individuals from the streets into stable housing. The Street to Housing program, highlighted yesterday by Sacramento City Express, is designed to serve 100 encampment households along the Sacramento Northern Parkway, providing much-needed relief and support in their transition to more permanent living situations.

According to Sacramento's Housing Manager Ya-yin Isle, "The Streets to Housing program marks an important step in addressing unsheltered homelessness in Sacramento." The City's Office of Innovation and Economic Development, together with the Department of Community Response, is leading the $5.85 million pilot, backed by the State’s Encampment Resolution Funds, which signals a significant move to apply a housing-first strategy in tackling the complex issue of homelessness, as stated by the Sacramento City Express.

With a focus on providing up to 12 months of rental assistance, case management, and stabilization services, the program intends to support participants in maintaining their new homes. Two organizations have been brought on board to facilitate the process. Community HealthWorks (CoHeWo) will handle landlord engagement and housing stabilization case management, actively securing housing units and supporting landlords and tenants throughout the rental period. Additionally, Housing Connector is tasked with rent administration, managing rental subsidies and ensuring prompt payments for security deposits and monthly rent to landlords, as reported by the Sacramento City Express.

These partnerships are pivotal, as CoHeWo's role includes not just finding housing but also ensuring that clients are supported during their time with rental subsidies to achieve long-term stability – their contract totals $1,356,188.40, which reserves $200,000 specifically for landlord incentives. Meanwhile, Housing Connector's $4.2 million contract encompasses a significant budget for rental assistance and security deposits, essential for reducing barriers to entry for many without homes, as per the Sacramento City Express.

The Street to Housing pilot is a component of the larger Regionally Coordinated Homelessness Action Plan (RCHAP)—a broad effort focused on curbing homelessness, accelerating pathways to housing, promoting equitable access to resources and heightening system accountability. It's anticipated that these moves will provide a template for future strategies in addressing housing instability across the region.