SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Evan Edwards, like so many, became homeless during the pandemic. He was unable to work and pay rent, so he started living in his truck.
“Today, I have a cabin, which I see as a great thing for me. It’s a new beginning,” said Edwards.
He’s been living at the Safe Stay community off East Parkway.
“It got to the point where I was almost going to take my life again; this is no life for me,” said Edwards.
He said his saving grace was qualifying for housing in the Safe Stay community.
Edwards said having a roof over his head allows him to take the next steps, bettering himself with education, learning to write.
He moved here from Africa at the age of 39 with a stop in Europe. The whole time looking for what everyone is chasing.
“I just want to live a better life like every other person,” said Edwards.
The Safe Stay community on East Parkway in south Sacramento has taken in 49 people in its first six weeks and has room for just six more.
The first safe stay location to open was on Florin Road and has 125 people living in 100 cabins.
Eight people have successfully graduated to permanent housing since opening in August.
County spokesperson Janna Haynes said more homes are on the way.
“The state gifted Sacramento 350 tiny homes. We found a site in city jurisdiction on the WellSpace location that we want to put 175 of them at, and we hope to repurpose the rest of them for the Watt Avenue location,” said Haynes.
That is 175 homes to the Stockton Boulevard location, and the rest head to Watt Avenue, which will serve as the large campus model housing 250 people.
“Non-congregate shelter is what gets people off the street. It is cheaper to put everyone in one room or dormitory style, but if people won’t say yes to it, it’s not the right solution. This gives people privacy, safety, dignity,” said Haynes.
The county allows people to stay in the cabin for nine months before evaluating their progress to make sure residents are working toward their next step.
The county’s next move is too look for a site near the American River Parkway for a tiny home community using the $25 million from the state.
If someone is interested in a tiny home and there are open spots, the county said to contact 211 and go through the application process.
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