- Simone Braithwaite
- Simone.Braithwaite@asm.ca.gov
(SACRAMENTO, Calif) – Assemblymember Kevin McCarty and Senator Richard Pan announce State approval (AB 175) to use a nearly 10-acre state parcel adjacent to Cal Expo for an emergency homeless shelter for unhoused Sacramentans along the American River Parkway.
In 2019, homelessness in Sacramento County reached more than 5,000 individuals. Since then, that number has increased due to the lack of affordable housing exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
This new state authorization allows Cal Expo, the City of Sacramento, and the County of Sacramento to enter into a five year agreement to use Lot Z – land now used by Cal Expo for overflow parking — for a homeless shelter, which will offer services to help with mental health and substance abuse. The site will help alleviate the homeless population along the American River Parkway – curbing potential fire risks and other dangers to the parkway’s habitat.
“Transforming Lot Z into a homeless shelter site will play a key role in our local effort to help our homeless population in Sacramento by providing necessary services to help them transition into permanent housing. And this will help get campers off the American River Parkway and help restore a jewel of Sacramento,” said Assemblymember Kevin McCarty.
“Cal Expo’s Lot Z is a critical part of Sacramento’s solution to provide our unhoused population with safe housing and services, while helping to restore our American River Parkway,” said Senator Richard Pan. “We appreciate CalExpo for their partnership and for being an important part of the solution as we work to tackle our region’s homelessness emergency.”
“Cal Expo’s Lot Z could be an ideal site for a campus solution to unsheltered homelessness,” said Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg. “Its large acreage and location will enable us to provide comprehensive services and housing to hundreds of people. It also can provide a necessary alternative to the unsafe and unhealthy conditions for people currently camping on the American River Parkway. We are working with our Sacramento County partners on this potential project as part of our comprehensive siting plan to provide more than 5,000 safe spaces, beds and roofs to our unsheltered neighbors.”
Access to the shelter will be given on a priority basis. First priority will go to all persons illegally camping in areas of the American River Parkway that have a high risk of fire. The second priority will be for all persons illegally camping within sensitive habitat areas of the American River. Third priority will be given to all persons illegally camping within other areas of or on lands that are adjacent to the American River Parkway.
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Kevin McCarty represents California’s 7th Assembly District, which include the cities of Sacramento, West Sacramento and unincorporated Sacramento County. McCarty serves as Chair of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance