In 2021, the City of Sacramento fielded both praise and condemnation surrounding a plan for city-sanctioned ‘tent cities.’ They would be healthier safer, and less disruptive homeless ‘housing’ solutions than scattered pop-up encampments marring the cityscape.
Sacramento’s plan, which received council approval, was criticized as unreasonably coercive as it would allow the city to fine or imprison those who refused to move into official city shelters or encampments.
California law does not allow the homeless to be moved along or otherwise punished, unless a city or region can offer a housing alternative. As of November 2021, Sacramento still lacked the resources to offer alternatives1. So while work continues on ‘official’ tent cities, activists have as yet no cause protest city bullying.
Indeed a recent report from the broader region of Sacramento County suggests that the city’s controversial plans are bearing useful fruit. The County has also taken steps to start building and managing its own tent cities. Read more at abc10: Sacramento County declares shelter crisis to fast-track ‘Safe Stay’ communities
