The city’s plan to shut down Camp Resolution a homeless encampment has raised concerns over the fate of its residents, as many are struggling to secure affordable housing due to a lack of available options and a looming deadline for voucher holders.
Sacramento Homeless Population on the Brink of Disaster
Jacob Ikeokwu, a 62-year-old homeless man in the River District, is racing against time to secure a place to call home. With only weeks left on his voucher and he is one of the estimated 175 individuals who may soon lose their chance at affordable housing, according to the report of Sacramento Bee.
The Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency’s (SHRA) primary affordable housing program serves over 13,000 participants, but is facing a crisis due to rising market rent rates. As a result, new entrants have been blocked and leaving over 45,000 families on waiting lists with approximately 6,000 Sacramentans experiencing homelessness nightly.
SHRA has reinstated a 180-day deadline for voucher holders to find a home, leaving many homeless individuals with a sense of urgency. Staff members are struggling to cope with the emotional toll of telling those seeking housing that they may not have enough time to find a place.
For Ikeokwu, finding a home is a desperate struggle. With a back injury and limited mobility, he relies on the government and nonprofits to secure housing. Despite having a voucher last year he remains homeless and faces the possibility of losing his chance at affordable housing.
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(photo: KCRA)
Sacramento’s Homeless Population on the Brink of Disaster as City Plans to Shut Down Camp Resolution
The city’s plans to shut down Camp Resolution, a homeless encampment have raised concerns over the fate of its residents. Without a replacement site, many are worried about being forced back onto the streets.
The root of Sacramento’s housing crisis is the decades-long failure to build affordable housing for the poor and shrinking middle class. This lack of affordable housing is the primary cause of homelessness, and programs like the Housing Choice rental subsidy program are only addressing symptoms, not the root cause.
