SACRAMENTO, Calif — It's about to get chilly in Northern California as a frost advisory has been issued for late Thursday through Friday morning.
Ahead of the incoming weather, the city of Sacramento is opening two respite centers for people experiencing homelessness to come inside during the worst of the cold weather.
ABC10 Meteorologist Rob Carlmark expects early morning temperatures between 2 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Friday will be cold, dropping as low as the upper 20s in some locations just before sunrise.
"When it comes down to it, warming shelters - man it's a blessing," said Kenneth Barb, an un housed man in Sacramento.
Barb, a Del Paso Heights native, said he's been homeless for nine months and is grateful for the respite center opening at City Hall.
"It's going to be freezing out there, and it's been freezing the last couple of nights. So, like I said, I'm appreciative, and I thank whomever is responsible," he said.
"Felt like the right thing to do"
The city says it wanted to give the unhoused an option without waiting for temperatures to hit an arbitrary number after learning lessons from the last major rain storm in October when it opened City Hall to get people out of the elements.
"In the past, we waited for the National Weather Service to issue some sort of frost warning or a cold warning, and we didn't do that this time. It just felt like the right thing to do; We have the building available," said Gregg Fishman, city spokesperson.
According to a report by the Sacramento Regional Coalition to End Homelessness. They say Winter is the deadliest season for the Unhoused. 35% of the 137 deaths in 2020 occurred during the cold season.
"I don't hear the stories bro; I live it," Barb said. "These people are friends, some like family, so when they're gone, they're gone, man."
Here is what two centers will be open:
- The City Hall Lobby
- Thursday and Friday nights
- 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.
- The Hagginwood Community Center
- Open Friday night
- 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.
At both centers visitors can expect snacks, water and restrooms to use, along with a place to stay warm.
“We are working with our non-profits and others to communicate with people experiencing homelessness to make sure they know that these respite centers are an option for them,” said Bridgette Dean, director of the Department of Community Response. “The City has about 1,100 beds in various settings for people experiencing homelessness, but they are currently full, and the respite centers offer an alternative to those most vulnerable during this cold weather event.”
Also, the city said motel vouchers will be offered to people through a referral process. This will all be done through a Sacramento County Department of Human Assistance program.
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