User:Am0ria1/Homelessness in California

As of February 2022, 9,278 individuals residing in Sacramento County were unsheltered. This number is a dramatic increase as compared to the previous Point-in-Time Count, of 2019, during which 5,570 people were unsheltered. In addition to an assortment of other causes (including unemployment, and a lack of access to resources), this increase is due to the insufficient amount of affordable housing within California, as well as the remarkable increase of rent occurring between 2019 and 2021 

Within the last decade, the rental market in Sacramento has increased in competitiveness, while vacancies have decreased. Not only is it more difficult to acquire housing because of the decline in availability, rental spaces are also difficult for most people to afford. As of 2019, the minimum wage is $14/hour, while the average cost of a one bedroom apartment in Sacramento is $1,188. A person earning minimum wage in this county would, therefore, need to work a minimum of 65 hours per week in order to rent an apartment. This number does not include other living expenses, such as groceries, toiletries, furnishing, etc.

With the aim of reducing the number of individuals experiencing housing insecurity, Sacramento County has established multiple housing projects (detailed within Sacramento Local Homelessness Action Plan). One of these projects, Flexible Supportive Re-housing Program (FSRP), targets the specific needs of individuals experiencing homelessness. FSRP partners with local nonprofit organizations to provide people with essential items, such as groceries, hygienic products, furniture, and transportation. By providing these services, FSRP hopes to decrease the number of individuals experiencing housing crises, while ensuring all individuals have safe, stable spaces to live.

This program emerged alongside Sacramento’s “Whatever It Takes” ideology. Through this, the Division of Homeless Services within Sacramento committed to doing whatever it takes to aid unhoused individuals through the process of finding secure housing, and sustaining themselves afterward.