SACRAMENTO, Calif. — For most of us during this hot summer, if we’re thirsty, we simply turn on a tap. For people experiencing homelessness like Dominic, water isn’t simple. It, like so many other seemingly simple tasks, is a huge issue.

“One of the hardest things we have is water and electricity,” Dominic said. “Let me tell you, we got a free phone from (former President Barack) Obama, praise the lord, but what do I do with it if I can’t use it?”

He’s been homeless for a year and camps along the American River Parkway near downtown Sacramento.

Soon his issues will expand as a new law passed by the County will make camping where he is illegal. Officials believe between 2,000-3,000 people live along the banks. They said the build-up of trash and fires started by the people without homes are making the area unsafe and hurting the environment. Dominic and others said if they’re forced to leave, they have one question.

“Where are we going to go?”

For the first time, Sacramento’s homeless count out numbers San Francisco’s at over 9,000 people. Within the city and county, around 2,500 shelter beds are available. Sacramento’s first pallet housing site is set to open this year to add over 100 much needed beds.

Janna Hayes, who has worked for the county for over six years, says the site is a part of a range of new initiatives, and more are on the way.

“This gives people a place to stay, a place to call home and a place to really settle down and accept the services and programs that they need to hopefully exit homelessness,” Hayes said.

Nonprofits who aid homeless people like Loaves and Fishes applaud the new pallet housing, but their executive director Angela Hassell who sees the struggles homeless people face every day with getting any sort of permanent housing, said the new law on camping along the river parkway will only further hurt their future prospects.

“With a misdemeanor, it’s a lot more difficult to get into housing. So, I think the criminalization aspect of it is a big piece of the problem,” Hassell said.

Dominic said he wants to get back on his feet.

“I mean, who wants to live like this?”

But feels the new law could make his goal for permanent housing a losing battle.