(FOX40.COM) — Some neighborhoods in Natomas are upset about the City of Sacramento’s decision to place a homeless transitional community for seniors in their area. Several spoke out at a Monday night community meeting hosted by Councilmember Lisa Kaplan.
The meeting was held in the clubhouse of the Stadium Club Estates senior mobile home park, which is adjacent to the narrow plot of land on Arena Boulevard near El Centro Road where the City plans to place forty small (120-square-foot) homes for seniors transitioning out of homelessness.
“We have families and kids,” a frustrated neighbor said during the meeting. “And you are giving permits to new beautiful developments. And then you bring homeless to put them in the middle of this beautiful society which we’re trying to build.”
Some of the neighbors at the meeting expressed frustration that they were left out of the planning process.
“It’s a done deal,” one neighbor complained. “What are we even here for?”
Brian Pedro, director of the city’s Department of Community Response, tried to calm the fears in the room and said residents of the micro-housing community will be hand-selected, well-vetted seniors who are not drug addicted and are capable of living independently.
“Stable individuals, sitting in our emergency shelters, on either SSI or disability, making anywhere from 967 dollars a month to 1206 dollars a month,” Pedro explained.
Plans for the micro community include an eight-foot fence with controlled entry, electricity, running water, laundry and bathrooms on site.
Some at the meeting expressed support for the city’s plan, but the most vocal attendees were opposed.
Councilmember Kaplan pointed out that the city council took a vote in 2023 authorizing the city manager to create housing for the homeless. Kaplan voted no, preferring that the City Council retain the authority to approve or deny locations for transitional housing.
“I knew something: if it was coming in District One, a night like this would be here,” Kaplan told FOX40. “My community would be upset. They have concerns and they have fears.”
Kaplan said Monday she is still waiting on some details and will be asking for more answers at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting.
“And if there are things that I can do as a council member to guarantee that this stays a 55 and over community, that good neighbor policies are enforced and all those other things, that’s what I’m going to start looking into: how can we address the community concerns and make sure it’s guaranteed when this moves forward,” Kaplan said.
The timeline for the micro-community is unclear. There will be a vote at Tuesday’s City Council meeting, but not to approve or deny the micro-community. The vote is to decide whether or not the residents there will be required to contribute 30 percent of their wage.
Dennis Shanahan
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