New Safe Camping Site Opens in River District
June 2026
Recent audit reaffirms challenges and the need for reforms to the City’s homeless services and sites
The recently released City Audit confirmed ongoing challenges and supports reforms aimed at addressing unsheltered homelessness. The newly established River District Safe Camping Site marks the first step in our Six Point Plan, which tackles unsheltered homelessness more cost-effectively.
The River District Safe Camping Site will serve approximately 125 people and provide a safe, organized place where residents can sleep, store possessions, access restrooms, and connect with critical services. The site will have 24/7 on-site security, a good neighbor policy, and a curfew.
The Audit of the City’s Homeless Response: Evaluation of Costs and Outcomes of Sheltering Programs outlined the need for greater cost efficiency, more shelters that meet people where they are, clearer success metrics, and a stronger connection between policy intent and implementation.
“Homelessness remains one of our biggest and most unfinished challenges. Too many people continue to languish on our streets, but we are making progress, as demonstrated in our recent PIT Count. Today, 590 fewer people live unsheltered than two years ago. We have expanded shelter and bed capacity and built stronger connections to services, but we still have a long way to go. We need to meet people where they are; this Safe Camping site is one piece of the puzzle,” said Mayor McCarty.
In the last 18 months, the City has …
- added 500+ shelter beds and safe spaces;
- more than doubled capacity from 100 to 226 at the Roseville Road tiny home campus;
- created $8.8 million in annual savings by renegotiating contracts, increasing the number of people served;
- partnered with recuperative care sites to provide shelter for homeless people exiting hospitals;
- and applied for and received more than $18 million in State grants and funding for alternative programs like Street to Housing.
The Six Point Plan is our roadmap to reform. In addition to Safe Camping, the plan includes…
- Safe Parking: A low-barrier-to-entry site where people can park and sleep in their vehicles safely. The City will provide restrooms, trash collection, charging stations, and outreach staff and security. Accommodates 60-80 vehicles, 100 people. Est. Completion: Early 2027
- Micro-Communities: Communities of tiny homes for homeless seniors. Tiny homes are more cost-effective and lead to better stability and outcomes for residents. We will launch three City-funded senior communities of 40 tiny homes, 120 sq. ft. each. After an initial 90-day stay, residents can choose to stay long-term and pay 30% of their income, in line with affordable housing standards. Locations: North Natomas, South Sacramento, and Woodbine. Accommodates 125 people. Construction: August 2026. Est. Completion: Early 2027
- Homekey+ Tiny Homes: A grant is pending for a new model of permanent supportive housing using tiny homes for seniors and veterans. These homes are cost-effective, community-oriented, and combine subsidized housing and on-site supportive services for residents. Accommodates 125 people. Location: North Sacramento. Est. Completion: Late 2027
- Motel Program 2.0: Last year, the City’s Audit of its existing Motel Program found it is not cost-effective and had a low rate of successful exits into permanent housing. In response, the City converted the Program to voucher-based, increasing resident engagement with supportive services. This change saved the City $2M, reinvested it into our programs. Effective: June 2026
- Robin Moore Tiny Home Grant Program: The Tiny Home Grant Program will provide interested faith-based organizations and nonprofits with tiny homes funded through sponsorships for homeless residents. Accommodates 15 people. Launching: Fall 2026
Once implemented, the City will have added approximately 465 more places for unsheltered Sacramentans, bringing the total number of new spaces added in the last 18 months to nearly 1,000. Consequently, Citywide shelter capacity will reach approximately 2,000 spaces.
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