Sacramento leaders agree on creating hundreds of affordable units for the unhoused
SACRAMENTO – Sacramento city and county leaders may be one step closer to navigating the homelessness crisis. An affordable housing plan meant to get people off the streets will create 2,000 units during a five-year plan.
On Tuesday, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors and Sacramento City Council approved a joint agreement. The city and county will need to finalize an affordable housing plan within 180 days of the agreement going into effect.
While it may appear to be the beginning, the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA) said the proposal is not in the infancy stages.
"We are moving forward with all of our energy and time and resources," said La Shelle Dozier, executive director of SHRA.
Dozier said there are units already in the pipeline.
What happens next? The SHRA and the City of Sacramento will be tasked with creating permanent housing.
"In my side of the shop, our role will really be to put our foot on the gas for rehousing programs," said Emily Halcon, a homeless service coordinator of the county.
"The county will also help with behavioral health and planning and design," Halcon added.
But who foots the bill? The SHRA said it is relying on federal, state and local help and will leverage it with tax credits. However, the city of Sacramento might also explore bond initiatives and a residential vacancy tax to fund affordable housing.
There is an emphasis on housing, but tackling homelessness will not end there.
"We're always very interested in making sure in that whatever we create that it's going to provide wrap-around services because we know that works," Dozier said.
