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Elk Grove residents are concerned after the city council approved a year-round homeless shelter

Elk Grove residents are concerned after the city council approved a year-round homeless shelter

Elk Grove residents are concerned after the city council approved a $4.5 million contract to open a year-round homeless shelter. The shelter will be located in the north building of Calvary Christian Center on East Stockton Boulevard. Nancy Sarmento, who lives nearby, said she learned about the shelter after the city signed the lease. “Usually there are fliers that are distributed in advance in neighborhoods that say, ‘This is what we think,'” Sarmento said. Neighbors said they felt it was a “done deal.” “For me it was already a given,” said neighbor Brian Sugahrue. The 24-hour shelter is set to open in early November and will serve up to 30 homeless residents each night. It will be run for three years by the group The Gathering Inn, which recently received backlash for a proposed homeless medical recovery center in Lincoln, said the group’s CEO, Keith Diederich said, “We are very excited about the opportunity with the City of Elk Grove for this contract. The city wants us as operators to refer all media inquiries directly to them.” The city of Elk Grove has not made anyone available for an interview. The property will be operational until at least October 2028. Meanwhile, a city report says it will begin looking for long-term housing options starting in 2025. For more coverage of top California stories, click here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter

Elk Grove residents are concerned after the city council approved a $4.5 million contract to open a year-round homeless shelter.

The shelter will be located in the north building of Calvary Christian Center on East Stockton Boulevard.

Nancy Sarmento, who lives nearby, said she learned about the shelter after the city signed the lease.

“Usually they have fliers that go out to the neighborhood in advance and say, ‘This is what we think,'” Sarmento said. “We have the fliers saying: This is what’s happening.”

Even though the city held community workshops, neighbors said they felt the matter was “done.”

“For me, it was already set,” said neighbor Brian Sugahrue.

The 24-hour shelter is scheduled to open in early November and will serve up to 30 homeless residents each night.

It has been run for three years by the group The Gathering Inn, which recently faced backlash for a proposed medical recovery center for homeless people in Lincoln.

In a statement to KCRA 3, the group’s CEO, Keith Diederich, said in part: “We are very excited about the opportunity with the City of Elk Grove for this contract.” The City wants us as operators to refer all media inquiries directly to them .”

The city of Elk Grove did not make anyone available for an interview.

The shelter will operate until at least October 2028.

Meanwhile, a report from the city says it will begin looking for long-term housing starting in 2025.

For more coverage of California’s top stories, click here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter