Elk Grove is closing in on a permanent home for its homeless shelter, cutting a long list of options down to just three possible sites. City officials say the move comes after months of screening and sets up a busy stretch of public meetings where residents can sound off. The future facility is intended to work alongside the temporary year-round shelter the city opened last fall.
The three contenders are 9296 East Stockton Boulevard, the intersection of Survey Road and East Stockton Boulevard, and a parcel on Dwight Road north of Laguna Boulevard, according to CBS Sacramento. City leaders stress this is an initial shortlist, not a done deal, and say they will lean on both public input and technical analysis before choosing a final location. Staff are still digging into feasibility, cost, and access to services for each site.
How the sites were chosen
According to the City of Elk Grove, the three candidates emerged after staff reviewed roughly 130 potential properties and applied draft evaluation criteria focused on accessibility, compatibility with surrounding uses, safety, and proximity to services. The city contracted NJA Architecture in 2025 to handle site feasibility work and draw up conceptual designs as part of a multi-phase planning effort. Officials say the goal is to limit impacts on schools, parks, and residential neighborhoods while still delivering on-site supportive services.
Where the shelter is operating now
For now, Elk Grove is operating a year-round shelter at Calvary Christian Center on East Stockton Boulevard under a lease that runs through at least September 2028, local reporting shows. The temporary program serves about 30 to 35 adults per night and pairs shelter beds with navigation and housing services that have helped people move into permanent homes, according to the Elk Grove Daily News. Measure E dollars are keeping that effort going while staff works on locking down a long-term site.
Public meetings and next steps
The city has lined up four public sessions on Jan. 21 and Jan. 27 to gather feedback on the three shortlisted locations, as reported by CBS Sacramento. Details on meeting times, locations, and ways to submit comments are posted on the project page run by the City of Elk Grove. Staff will blend community feedback with technical, safety, and feasibility studies to further narrow the options and map out any required environmental review.
Housing and Public Services Manager Sarah Bontrager told local reporters that “site selection is the hard part,” and city leaders say they are aiming for a low-barrier, pet-friendly shelter model with counseling, job resources, and family units, the Elk Grove Citizen reports. Residents who want a say in where the shelter ultimately lands can find meeting materials and comment options on the city’s project page as the process moves ahead.
