SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Grappling with winds to cover his pickup truck from the rain, while dodging cars he could reach out and touch, is something Michael said he’s been doing since living in his car on the corner of Connie Dr. and Roseville Rd. for five years.
Michael said, though, some cars you just can’t dodge, like one instant, with a friend’s car.
“It happened to Ginger’s Jeep. It was across the street and somebody plowed right into it. It could’ve killed somebody,” he said.
Like much of the state, the capital is dealing with a surge in the number of homeless people, many living in camper vans, RVs and cars.
Janna Hayes has worked for Sacramento County for six years and said they recognize many unhoused people live in vehicles. And why the county is excited, it will offer safe parking for the first time at a newly purchased 13-acre property, just up the road from where Michael’s car is parked.
“What’s great about this particular location is that it’s already fenced, which allows us to monitor people’s coming-and-goings. And it has enough space for, we’re expecting about 50 cars and RVs. Where people may live in this area,” Janna said.
The site will have security and also has a 130,000-square-foot warehouse that will feature pallet housing for 140 people, social services, bathrooms, and a kitchen.
Janna said the county is currently searching for a site operator and an architect. Like many homeless living in their cars, Michael said his doesn’t run. So, even if he wanted to get to the new site when it’s operational, he said he couldn’t. An issue Janna said the county is looking into.
“It’s kind of a whatever-it-takes approach. If we need to tow people’s vehicles here, if we need to pay for auto maintenance to get them up and running so that they can drive them here, those are all things that we have to consider.”
Michael said he and others hope the place will truly be a benefit to those without a safe place to be.
“Be that breath of fresh air, where you can relax for a minute,”
He also hopes the county will look to those who are homeless to help staff the site.
But until the property is up and running, Michael said dodging cars will remain part of his everyday life.