City of Elk Grove holds permanent homeless shelter open house information session

As part of the City of Elk Grove's decision to locate a permanent year-round homeless shelter in the city limits, an open house information session was held at the Elk Grove Public Library. 

The Wednesday, August 20, session drew several dozen residents who engaged one-on-one with members of the city staff involved in the project. In the video below, we spoke with Ms. Sarah Bontrager, who, as the city's housing manager, is leading the overall project. 

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Elk Grove currently operates its shelter in leased space at the Calvary Christian Center church on East Stockton Boulevard just north of Elk Grove Boulevard. The church facilities are in what was once the Elk Grove Ford dealership, before it relocated to the  Elk Grove Auto Mall. 

Before the Calvary Christian Center operation, the shelter was located in what would become the soon-to-be relocated Elk Grove Public Library on the corner of Elk Grove Boulevard and Waterman Road in the city's Old Town-Historic Downtown Elk Grove special planning area. That facility was originally a Rite Aid drugstore. 

While the city has fully funded the shelters, they have contracted with Roseville, Calif.-based The Gather Inns for ongoing operations. 

As Ms. Bontrager noted in the video, this session was the first step in what will be a lengthy public outreach campaign. Based on local resistance to both facilities, wherever the shelter is located, it is expected to encounter opposition from adjoining residents.   

Further information on upcoming information sessions can be viewed here.