Future Homeless Shelter

Elk Grove's homelessness strategy is working. The temporary shelter and the City’s updated camping ordinance have delivered measurable community benefits including:

• A 65 percent reduction in homeless encampments citywide over the past year
• A safe, stable environment where individuals can sleep, eat, and access essential services
• Individualized case management, including employment assistance, behavioral health services, and transportation to medical and service appointments
• Dozens of individuals successfully transitioned off the streets and connected to longer-term or permanent housing solutions Together, these results underscore the effectiveness of Elk Grove’s proactive and compassionate approach and provide a strong foundation for investing in a permanent shelter that continues to meet both individual and community needs.

The City has seen an increase in vulnerable people experiencing homelessness, many for the first time. This is especially difficult during the summer and winter months, when weather conditions have led to deaths in other communities.  

The 2024 PIT count estimates that Elk Grove has 83 unsheltered people – accounting for 2.1% of the County’s unsheltered population. That number is up from 45 in 2022, but consistent with the City’s estimation that Elk Grove is home to 100-150 people experiencing homelessness at any given time. The Enhanced Winter Sanctuary was able to successfully transition 20 people to permanent housing and with a year-round shelter we anticipate being able to support even more people. 

The City evaluated over one hundred potential locations and applied the criteria developed in collaboration with the community to narrow the options. On February 11, 2026, the City Council approved moving forward with the acquisition of the Survey Road site as the location for Elk Grove's permanent homeless shelter.

The City began by reviewing all available sites within Elk Grove, including City-owned properties, vacant land, and parcels with existing buildings—about 130 locations in total. From there, a community survey established the shelter siting criteria priorities which staff used to narrow the list down to potential locations. Following four additional community meetings, the City Council selected the Survey Road site as the preferred location.

City staff provided the Council with a summary of what we heard from the community at the February 11, 2026 City Council meeting, along with the full feasibility analysis for each site. Input gathered through the community meetings and the criteria values survey helped highlight what matters most to residents.

Yes, there are restrictions. The facility will not serve: 

• Registered sex offenders 
• People with serious behavioral health challenges 
• People who wish to use drugs or alcohol on-site
• People with no connection to Elk Grove

Eligible people include Elk Grove residents or people with a connection to Elk Grove. Only people that have been vetted by the City’s Homeless Services Navigators and have a referral will be accepted. No walk-up or drop-in access is allowed. 

The City made the decision to use a referral-only system to reduce the burden on the neighborhood. Referral-only systems, also known as coordinated access, allow guests to be appropriately vetted and discourage loitering and unauthorized drop-offs. 

The City held seven community meetings and three surveys on the shelter project. Early engagement gathered input on services and community involvement, while later engagement and January 2026 meetings focused on site selection, prioritizing distance from sensitive areas, cost, services, safety, and transportation.

Yes, since November 2024, the City in collaboration with The Gathering Inn, has operated a year-round homeless shelter at a temporary location at 9499 East Stockton Blvd.

Prior to that, from November 2023 through April 2024 the City, in collaboration with The Gathering Inn, operated the Enhanced Winter Sanctuary. It was located at 9260 Elk Grove Blvd, the former Rite Aid building and future home of the Elk Grove Library.  

Learn more about the shelter

Safety and security are very important to the City. In addition to limiting access, the year-round shelter will have cameras on-site, which will be monitored by the Elk Grove Police Department. The shelter is designed with safety in mind, following best practices and Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles. Security cameras will be linked to the City’s Real Time Information Center (RTIC), ensuring timely response to any safety concerns. At a minimum, there will always be three staff on-site 24/7.

The service provider operating the site will also have rules around security and safety, including:  

• No weapons, alcohol, drugs, or drug paraphernalia allowed on site  
• Nightly curfews/Limited access during certain hours (e.g., locked overnight)  
• Clearly posted rules and expectations for all guests 
• People with no connection to Elk Grove

Yes. Many people experiencing homelessness have pets that are very important to them. A key aspect of convincing them to participate is accommodating their pets.

You can submit your concerns anytime by contacting Haimanot Ashenafi, Homeless Programs Analyst at [email protected] or 916-627-3204.

A formal decision on a shelter operator has not been made. The City will conduct a Request for Proposal (RFP) process for a shelter operator in 2027.  

No. The shelter is designed specifically to serve Elk Grove residents or individuals with a clear, verifiable connection to the city—such as local family ties, established relationships, or previous employment in the community. Entry into the shelter is referral-only and managed exclusively through the City’s Homeless Services Navigator. This means individuals cannot self-admit or access services without meeting the City’s eligibility criteria. The shelter’s limited capacity and controlled referral process ensure it serves only those already connected to Elk Grove, not individuals from other areas.

The City does not have a space designated for cooling or warming centers and the location typically changes on facility availability. The shelter is being designed to include space to accommodate a future cooling or warming center.

In response to the Supreme Court ruling in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-1-24 on July 25, 2024. This Executive Order provides state and local officials the definitive authority to implement and enforce policies to remove encampments. On August 29, 2024, the City introduced an amendment to the local camping ordinance, prohibiting persons from sleeping on public property.  

Having available shelter options provides compassionate care to those who need it most and increases the effectiveness of the Homeless Services Navigators and Elk Grove Police Department’s Homeless Outreach Team in addressing homelessness. 

The City is planning to provide shelter for up to 25 adults with an additional 5 emergency beds. Unlike the City’s past two shelters, there will be a space for up to 4 families with modular room configurations to support a range of family types.

The permanent shelter will be funded primarily by Measure E and when available, the City will use a mix of local and state funding. Community polling in the development of Measure E listed addressing homelessness among the highest community priorities. Following the passage of Measure E, the City held a community forum discussing program options for addressing homelessness as part of the development of the Measure E Expenditure Plan. At this meeting, community members prioritized providing a winter shelter for those experiencing homelessness. 

Yes. Many suburban communities, including Folsom and Rancho Cordova, operate winter shelters. Additionally, Citrus Heights, Sacramento, and the unincorporated County have year-round facility options.  

Unfortunately, the number of available shelter beds in Sacramento County is not adequate to offer access to all those who need it. The latest Point in Time Count (PIT) estimates there are 6,615 people living unhoused in Sacramento County on any given night. Of those, 60 percent of those are living unsheltered – which means they are living in a tent, a vehicle, or without any shelter. 

A commercial kitchen is a professionally designed kitchen that meets health and safety standards for cooking large quantities of food. For a homeless shelter, having a commercial kitchen allows staff and volunteers to prepare nutritious meals on-site efficiently. It supports food safety, reduces costs by cooking in bulk, and provides an opportunity for residents to participate in meal preparation or culinary training programs. Meals will only be provided to shelter guests.

No. While the shelter does not require sobriety to enter, alcohol and drug use are strictly prohibited on-site. This allows people to come indoors safely and get connected to counseling and recovery support. Referral to drug and alcohol counseling programs have been a service provided at the year-round shelter that will continue to this location.

Guests must follow the shelter’s code of conduct to maintain a safe and respectful environment for everyone.