News coverage on homelessness in the Sacramento region has proliferated over the last few months and we are glad for the awareness! Metro Chamber has worked tirelessly this year to promote better shelter policies in our region. You may already be aware, but Metro Chamber supports the Emergency Shelter and Enforcement Act of 2022 and is doing all we can to get the measure passed in November. Here are a few, recent updates on homelessness in the Sacramento area.
The number of unhoused people living in Sacramento County, as counted by the 2022 Homeless Point-In-Time County, has increased tremendously since 2019. The majority of the 9,300 people surveyed during the latest count were also living unsheltered.
There are now nearly 2,000 more people experiencing homelessness living in Sacramento County than in San Francisco County, although San Francisco’s per capita rate remains higher.
The approved, amended version of the Emergency Shelter and Enforcement Act of 2022 is headed to the ballots in November. Metro Chamber continues to publicly and vocally support this measure.
Analysts are hopeful that the recent, dire statistics on our region’s crisis will spur voters to action. If passed, the Emergency Shelter and Enforcement Act would rapidly authorize new shelter spaces and give local governments the authority to remove individuals camping on public if they are offered shelter and refuse.
To get involved reach out to Jenna Abbott, SVP of Strategic Initiatives at the Metro Chamber at jabbott@metrochamber.org.